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HISTORY 



OF THE 



TOWN OF WINCHENDON, 

(WORCESTER COUNTY, MASS.,) 



FROM THE 



GRANT OF IPSWICH CANADA IN 1735, 



TO THE PRESENT TIME 



REV. A. P. MARVIN. 



" Children's children are the crown of old men : and the glory of children are 
their fathers." — Proverbs xth : 6. 



WINCHENDON : 

PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOR. 

1868. 



Z 



F.74- 
S4-/r 






< "V 



Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1SG8, by 

A. P. MARVIN, 

in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States, for 
the District of Massachusetts. 



/ 



PRINTED BY GARFIELD & STRATTON, 

176 MATN ST., PITCHBTJBO, MASS. 



By wsuiafer 
5 Je1907 



INTRODUCTION. 

" The door swings wide ; enter the structure plain, 
Roomy and somewhat large ; of ornament 
Devoid, save that each hall, bracket and niche, 
Is graced with some ancestral form and face ; 
And all is consecrate to God." 

ORIGIN OF THE WORK. 

At a town meeting held in March, 1857, it was voted " that the 
school committee be a committee to correspond with the family of the 
late Milton Whiton, to see upon what terms the manuscript can be pro- 
cured, and report at some future meeting." The " manuscript" re- 
ferred to in the vote, consisted of four Lectures on the history of Win- 
ohendon, prepared by Rev. John Milton Whiton, D. D., then of Ben- 
nington, N. H., extending over about one hundred and fifty pages of 
medium sized sermon paper. Being a native of Winchendon and much 
interested in its early history, and being moreover addicted to histori- 
cal inquiries, he had prepared a brief history of the town from the origi- 
nal grant of Ipswich Canada, to the year 1820. In the year 1855. 
he read two of these lectures in the town hall, to a respectable audience, 
by whom he was requested to read the remainder. Much interest was 
expressed in the work, and offers of compensation were made. The Dr., 
while declining to receive any pay, consented to continue the reading of 
his manuscript, at some convenient time. His decease, in the course 
of the coming season, prevented the fulfillment of his promise, but the 
people were desirous of possessing his manuscript, and either printing 
it as a History, or making it the foundation of a History of the town. 

In accordance with the above vote, the committee, — Messrs. A. P. 
Marvin, Elisha Murdock, B. F. Clarke, E. S. Merrill and Isaac M. 
Murdock — corresponded with the family of Dr. Whiton, and purchased 
the four lectures for forty dollars. They reported that " the history was 
very valuable as far as it goes," but that being in the form of lectures, 



4 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 

it " must be re-written, in part, or else be accompanied by occasional 
notes." The latter method was preferred by the committee. Besides 
other suggestions, was this : " that the town as a corporation, will be 
one hundred years old in a few years, when it is probable there will be 
a Centennial Celebration, the account of which will be an interesting 
chapter of town history." It was thought best therefore " to defer the 
publication until after that event." It was voted by the town, that in- 
asmuch as the work of Dr. Whiton, " though valuable, is not complete, 
a committee be appointed to collect and compile such additional facts 
in relation to the military, business, educational and religious history of 
the town, as are necessary to bring the annals of the town down to the 
present time." The committee chosen were A. P. Marvin, Elisha Mur- 
dock, Bethuel Ellis, Stillman Hale and Isaac M. Murdock. 

In March, 1860, this committee were instructed " to make a full and 
definite Plan of the History of the town, and report the same to the 
next town meeting." This vote was complied with, and a Plan was 
reported, which was adopted by the town. It is substantially that on 
which the following pages were written, and therefore need not be cop- 
ied here. It may be said, however, that the report and plan contem- 
plated a new work, and not merely Dr. Whiton's manuscript with notes. 
That was found to be impracticable. The manuscript could only be 
used as materials for history. In accordance with the recommendation 
of the committee, it was voted that " the work be embellished with pic- 
tures of the town hall and the old meeting-house on the hill, and also 
with a map of the town, to be procured at the public expense, and also 
with portraits, and with pictures of churches, dwellings, &c, at private 
expense." At subsequent times, the town voted to add pictures of the 
academy and the new school-house. In 1861, the committee were 
authorized to prepare a history on the plan proposed, and " draw on the 
treasury for all necessary expenses." 

Action was taken at different times with reference to the publication 
of the history, as soon after the hundredth anniversary — 1664 — as con- 
venient. But when the time came, the country was in the crisis of its 
fate ; the centennial passed by without any municipal celebration ; and 
it was the general opinion that the work ought not to be put to press 
until the suppression of the rebellion, in order that the action of the 
town in sustaining the government, might be included. For this rea. 



INTRODUCTION. O 

son, it was voted, at the March meeting, in 1865, that the publication 
of the work be still farther deferred. At the same time, a vote was 
passed, requesting the writer to prepare the history of the town, and 
draw on the town treasurer for his compensation. In the meantime, 
Capt. Hale had been removed from the committee by death, and Mr. 
Luke Rice had been chosen in his place. The health of Hon. Elisha 
Murdock had failed, so that, for several years, he had been able to 
render no assistance. From the above date, the whole responsibility 
of preparing the work has rested upon the author, though votes were 
passed at different time3, referring the matter of publication to the com- 
mittee and the selectmen. By a vote in 1866, the work was farther 
delayed. At the March meeting in 1867, the publication of the work 
was authorized, and in the autumn of that year, it was seriously 
prosecuted. Collections had been made during the preceding years, 
but it was found necessary to make a thorough search of all the town 
records, as well as those of the churches, parishes and other associa- 
tions. Several weeks were occupied in this work, and early in the pres- 
ent year, the writing of the history was commenced. At the March 
meeting, — 1868 — it was agreed that the " town would furnish the pic- 
tures and maps voted heretofore, at the town's expense, and subscribe 
for seventy-five copies of the History," if the author would publish the 
work at his own expense. 

SOURCES OP THE WORK. 

The " History of Winchendon" by the late venerable Mr. Ezra Hyde, 
was a very accurate and creditable work. It was appreciated by the 
public, and the edition was soon exhausted. But it was very brief, 
and merely referred to facts and events. All the records copied or 
referred to by him, I have consulted in the originals. For the dates 
when certain families moved into the town, and their places of residence, 
as well as for a number of facts recorded in the chapter on" note-wor- 
thy events," his work deserves the credit. The manuscript of Dr. 
Whiton is worthy of his reputation as an accurate chronicler of events, 
written in an elegant style. Everything coming from his pen, was neat 
and correct. The paper is of superior quality, with gilt edges. The 
handwriting is legible as print, and as beautiful as an engraving, and 
the words and sentences take their places with almost faultless precis- 
ion. But as the narrative was not complete, it was necessary to put 



6 HISTORY OF WINCHEND03T. 

it aside, and write the history of the town anew. If the whole of his 
manuscript were printed, it would probably cover about seventy pages 
of this volume ; but as it contains many references to extraneous mat- 
ters, the part that relates to Winchendon would occupy much less space. 
The reader will be indebted to him for many anecdotes and incidents- 
illustrative of the life and character of people here in the olden time. 

I have thought it right to make these references to the much respect- 
ed gentlemen who have written on the history of the town, but the true 
sources of the following history are to be found in original Record*. I 
have read almost every page of the several volumes of town Records,, 
including the Registers of births, marriages, and deaths. In addition, 
the Records of churches, religious societies, engine companies, literary 
associations, soldiers' aid societies, and committees, have been careful- 
ly examined. The work was long and dreary, but it was unavoidable 
if the history was to be full and reliable. Besides, I have consulted 
original papers in the offices of the Secretary of State, and the Adju- 
tant-General. All the names of militia officers were copied from the 
rolls by my own hand ; and in making out theroll of the soldiers in the 
late war, I searched through more than seven hundred pages of fine 
print, in the office of the State printers, in order to secure accuracy. 
But as the State has not yet half completed the work of printing a cor- 
rect roll of all her soldiers, there must necessarily be omissions and er- 
rors in the chapter on the war. 

The individuals to whom the author is indebted, are numerous. 
Bethuel Ellis, Esq., and Mr. Luke Rice of the committee, have ren- 
dered very valuable aid. The former has assisted in forming the maps, 
and in making out the list of soldiers ; and by his surveys, has enabled 
me to give the height of the Centre above the water in the Village, and 
to form a plan of the Common. His advice has been sought on many 
occasions, and has always been esteemed. The extraordinary memo- 
ry of Mr. Rice has been of great assistance. His mind is a repository 
of local and personal history, and he has been free to communicate. 
In particular, the names of all the married couples in town in the year 
1800, were furnished by him. His name occurs often in the following 
pages, where proper credit is given. Many of the names on the pages 
accompanying the maps, were also derived from his recollection. Web- 
ster Whitney, Esq., has furnished several excerpts from the Records — 
in particular, nearly all the list of town officers — and has given much 



INTRODUCTION. 7 

verbal information. He has allowed me the freest access to the origi- 
nal papers in his office, and the printed works which would throw light 
on the history of the town. The Records through all the years of the 
town's existence, have been written in a legible hand, but some of the 
clerks had their own peculiar modes of spelling and of forming senten- 
ces. For the last thirty-six years, the Records are a model of neat- 
ness and accuracy. 

The author takes pleasure in expressing his indebtedness to the late 
Mr. Smyrna Greaton for most of the facts in the history of the Meth- 
odist church ; to the Hon. Artemas Hale, of Bridgewater ; to Mr. Al- 
bert Brown for the papers of his venerable grandfather, the Hon. Abel 
Wilder ; to Messrs. Jacob and John Woodbury, and many others, for 
information in regard to unrecorded facts. It should be added how- 
ever, that the information of different persons often covered the same 
ground, and that in every instance, where possible, resort has been had 
to the Records for the sake of verification. 

THE CENTENNIAL. 

Reference has been made to the hundredth anniversary of the organ- 
ization of the town, and to the fact that the centennial celebration which 
was contemplated, never took place. In fact, the town intended to 
liave a celebration, and voted a thousand dollars to pay the expenses. 
A large and respectable committee was appointed to make arrange- 
ments. The Hon. William B. Washburn, our representative in Con- 
gress, a native of the town, was invited to prepare the historical ad- 
dress. But the pressure of business upon him made it impossible for 
him to find time for that service. As the time for the anniversary, the 
14th day of June, 1864, drew nigh, the committee concluded to post- 
pone, for the time, at least, the proposed celebration. The principal 
reason given was, that the public mind wa3 too intently and anxiously 
fixed on the great struggle in the " wilderness," and beyond, where 
many of our soldiers were fighting and falling, to enter into the spirit 
of a centennial celebration. The time therefore passed by, with per- 
haps an expectation that later in the year, a day might be found for 
the commemorative festivity. But what is not done in its time, is gen- 
erally never done ; and thus it proved in this case. We had no cen- 
tennial proceedings to make a chapter of history. 

However, a3 the season wore away, and the time of year, — Novem- 



8 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 

ber, — when the first town meeting was held In the town, drew near, a 
desire was expressed by some of the aged inhabitants, to have a histor- 
ical discourse on the early history of the town. Accordingly it was. 
proposed to have all the congregations unite on Thanksgiving day, and 
after suitable expressions of gratitude for the Divine favor, in the bless- 
ings of the year, to recall the past of the town's history. On the ap- 
pointed day, the North Congregational house of worship was thronged 
by the people from all parts of the town, who came to participate in 
the services. The preliminary exercises had special reference to Thanks- 
giving. The singing, the scriptures and the prayers were appropriate 
to the day. The devotions were conducted by Rev. Messrs. Clarke, 
Best and Litchfield. The author then gave an address which extend- 
ed through an hour and a half, to which the audience listened with ap- 
parent interest. The facts and anecdotes crowded into it, form a part 
of this volume. Though a poor substitute for a centennial celebration, 
it served to show the interest of the citizens in the history of their ances- 
try, and a desire to honor their memory. The following hymns, writ- 
ten for the occasion, were sung. The first is inserted for its merit ; the 
last, because it had the fortune to be in good company. 

ORIGINAL HYMN. 

BY MISS- N. A. W. PEIEST. 



TUNE DENNY. 

ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO. 

Once more with thankful hearts we greet 

This glad returning day, 
Once more within these walls we meet, 

To sing, and praise and pray. 
To offer grateful thanks to God, 

With hearts that overflow, 
And trace the paths the fathers trod, 

A hundred years ago. 

A wild, unbroken solitude, 

By foot of man untrod, 
The grand primeval forest stood, 

And stretched green arms abroad. 
And where our church bells call to prayer. 

And feet of hundreds go, 
The wolfs long howl disturbed the air 

A hundred years ago. 

Our grandsires came with axe and plough. 
They felled the forest tree, 



INTRODUCTION. 

Where fruitful fields are smiling now, 

They broke the stubborn lea ; 
They laid foundations firm and broad, 

They builded sure and slow ; 
We reap rich harvests where they sowed, 

A hundred years ago. 

They built them homes, they tilled the soil, 

Their flocks they watched and fed, 
With strong, brown hands inured to toil, 

They won their daily bread. 
And when the revolution came 

They left the axe and plough, 
And battled well in freedom's name 

As we are battling now. 

Then honor to those men of old, 

Who felled the forest trees, 
And warr*d with hunger, want and cold, 

That we might dwell at ease. 
God give ns strength our work to do, 

And grace our work to know, 
Like those brave, simple men that lived, 

A hundred years ago. 

t ■! « t 

ORIGINAL HYMN. 

TUNE PARK STREET. 

Our fathers' God .' to Thee we raise 
Our hearts in songs of grateful praise. 
For all the mercies Thou hast shown, 
E'erwhile a hundred years have flown. 

Then wild woods waved o'er all the waste, 
The streams flowed by in useless haste ; 
In swift pursuit the fierce wolf* ran, 
The stealthy savaget marked his man. 

Beneath Thy smile our fathers wrought, 

They built, they sang, they prayed, they fought ;t 

They hid the seed within the soil, 

And waving harvosts blest their toil. 

The forest fell before their stroke, 
The pine, the beech, the sturdy oak; 
In opening glades they reared their home, 
And soon appeared Thy hallowed dome. 

The rolling years have swiftly past, 
But still Thy mercy standeth fast ; 
That God who broke the Briton's sway, 
Now guards us in this wrathful day. 

Then garlands round the brows entwine 
Of those who lived iu " auld lang syne," 
And worship Him who reigns above, 
With prayer and songs of grateful love. 



♦Incident in the life of Dr. Whiton ; also, of Col. Woodbury, 
t Incident in the life of John Darling. 
t Many were out in the Revolution. 



10 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 

MAPS, PICTURES, PORTRAITS. 

In a work of this kind it is desirable to have illustrations enough, with- 
out making a picture book. The maps have been prepared with great 
care. That of the town is mainly Whitney's map on a reduced scale, 
some of the obvious errors being corrected, as in the bend of the river 
between the Cemetery and the Butler mill. But instead of inserting 
the names of present residents in the map, a number has been used to 
designate the spot where each house or old cellar may be found. The 
numbers extend from 1 to 157 north and west of Miller's river, and 
from 1 to 146, south of the river. To each number, printed on a sheet 
facing the map, are annexed the name of the first owner or occupant, 
when it can be ascertained, the names of others who dwelt there sub- 
sequently, and the name of the present resident. In this way, the 
map, in itself, is a history of the town. A small o indicates an old cellar, 
though the artist has sometimes made the letter large, and in others has 
omitted it. In several instances the exact locality of early settlers can- 
not be found, and the name is inserted between those which are known, 
and near the spot of their residence. The outline of the hills is given 
as well as the summits. The courses of several brooks have been marked. 
The enlargement of the Monomonauk is indicated, as well as the loca- 
tion of smaller lakes. Discontinued roads are indicated by single or 
double dotted lines. New roads are inserted. The map of the Village 
is on the same plan. It is copied from Walling's survey, enlarged, 
and shows the new streets. By reducing the size of the town map, and 
printing the names on separate sheets, the cost has been reduced, at 
least one half, while the maps are more manageable, and their value is 
greatly enhanced. These, with the Plan of the original division of lots, 
were lithographed by Charles II. Crosby, of Boston. 

The Pictures are designed to give specimens of the architecture of 
the place for the information of those who shall live here in future years. 
At the same time they serve to embellish the work. The churches and 
the town hall are given with neighboring buildings, simply because they 
thus appear to better advantage. By this means, moreover, the ex- 
pense is divided. The picture of the Village, of the South Side, of 
Spring Village, of the Baptist Church, of the Church of the Unity, of 
the Methodist Church, of the Bank and of the New School House, were 
drawn on the block by Mr. Roswell M. Shurtleff. The rest, excepting 



MlS»H,4»V»WAEiniU) 



INTRODUCTION. 11 

the First Church, sketched by Charles J. Rice, Esq., were photographed 
by Mr. I. F. Alger. All the engravings, except that of the old Dea. 
Day house were made by Messrs. Russell k Richardson, of Boston. 

The portraits have not been inserted for the purpose of flattering in- 
dividuals or families. The plan of having portraits has been resolved 
on and reconsidered, several times. The fact that there are no pictures 
of many who most deserve to be remembered, seemed to render it ad- 
visable to have none at all. At the last moment, however, it was de- 
termined to have eight portraits. It was found impossible to have one 
of Hon. Abel Wilder, Capt. Phinehas Whitney, or any of the clergy- 
men who were here previous to 1845. The portraits of Ephraim Mur- 
dock, Esq., Isaac Morse, Esq., and Mr. Amasa Whitney, are inserted, 
because they were, in a peculiar sense, the fathers of the Village. Mr. 
James Murdock, Sen., lived to a great age, was a highly respected 
citizen, and was in a certain sense among the fathers of the town. Hon. 
Artemas Hale is an aged gentleman, whose birthplace was here, and 
who has conferred honor on his native place. It was expected up to 
the last moment, to have a portrait of Dr. Israel Whiton, as a compan- 
ion to that of Dr. Alvah Godding, because, with a brief interval, they 
illustrate the medical history of the town for about ninety years. It 
is an occasion of sincere regret that the portrait could not be obtained. 
Both Dr. Godding and Mr. Hale were reluctant to appear in this prom- 
inent manner, but kindly yielded to the request of friends. The por- 
trait of the author has been inserted, at the request of friends whose 
wishes are imperative. The picture of Mrs. Wakefield,* (Miss N. A. 
W. Priest,) has been procured by friends, without consulting her wish- 
es, for which liberty the boon of pardon is hereby craved. It was deemed 
essential to the completeness of the work, that the portrait of the ex- 
quisite genius who is the author of " Over the River," and of " Heav- 
en," should have a place. Thus it appears that Maps, Pictures and 
Portraits are illustrative of the history of the town, and are therefore of 
general interest. It may be added that the artists have done their 
work in a manner worthy of their high reputation. 



* Mrs. Wakefield, though born in the edge of Royalston, belongs to Win- 
chendon. Her family have resided here, from the beginning, through five or 
six generations. Her father moved into Royalston a little while before her 
birth, and returned while she was quite young. 



12 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 

It was the intention to have the work printed here, by Mr. Ward,* 
who is unsurpassed as a workman, certainly by any outside of Boston. 
But it was not possible for him to obtain a suitable press until too late. 
Reluctantly therefore, and after considerable delay, the work was put 
into the hands of Messrs. Garfield & Stratton, of Fitchburg, whose 
workmanship will speak for itself. 

It may be objected by some that the work is too large, and that too 
much space has been given to " Roads," " School Districts," and mi- 
nute details. But no apology will be offered, and the work must be left 
to time for any needed justification. The utmost pains have been tak- 
en to secure accuracy, and to treat every event and every person with 
perfect fairness. Some may incpuire why certain names are not to be 
found in the biographic chapter. For example, one son of Rev. Mr. Mor- 
ton is distinguished as a business man in New York ; Julius L. Clark, 
Esq., son of Rev. E. L. Clark, is highly respected as the Superintend- 
ent of State Charities ; three sons of Rev. Mr. Storrs arc graduates of 
Amherst College, and two of them were officers in the late war ; and Rev. 
Charles N. Wilder is a graduate of Burlington University. But none of 
them are natives, and most of them received their education elsewhere. 
Doubtless errors and mistakes will be found, but these will be pardoned 
by those who appreciate even a hundredth part of the labor and care 
involved in preparing a town history. 

CORRECTIONS. 

Some errors have crept into the following pages, which need correction. 

Page 105, line 1, insert Moses before Smith. 

Page 113, line 27, for 1744 read 1774. 

Page 226, line 6, insert Miss Caroline A. Pitkin. 

Page 3G2, line 1, insert Joel Butler, 99. 

Page 398, line 14, for raising read dedication. 

Page 39S, line 14, for 1792 read 1793. 

Page 398, line 18, insert David Stoddard. 

Page 424, line 7, for Otis read Samuel. 

Page 431, line 7, of note, for Simeon read Daniel. 

Paye 434, line 28, for Newton read Ilopkiuton. 

Page 439, line 9, for 1762 read 1752. 

Page 476, add that Capt. Benjamin Wilder had 17 children. 

Add to page 226, Mr. Frederick W. Russell and Miss Mary A. Marvin; and 
to page 380, the fact that the Alert Company, true to its antecedents, took the 
first prize at a muster in Fitchburg, on the 6th day of October, 1S6S. 



* The first printer in Winchendon was Mr. Rollins, who had a job office, 
and started two small papers, one called "The Mirror," and the other the 
" Torchlight," a campaign paper, in 1852. Mr. Ward succeeded him, and prints, 
either plain or in colors, with much taste and elegance. 



CONTENTS. 13 



TABLE OF" CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER I. TOPOGRAPHIC. 

Location of the Town ; Original Boundaries ; Present Boundaries and Extent ; 
Surface,— Water, Hills, Plains and Meadows, Forests; Flora, Fauna; Ge- 
ology 17 

CHAPTER II. EXPLORATIONS. 

Division of Lots ; Settlement ; First Settlers ; Contrast between 17G4 and 180-1. 
CHAPTER III. — ORGANIZATION AND NAME. 

CHAPTER IV. CHARACTER OF THE PEOPLE. 

CHAPTER V. ANNALS ; 1764 1800. 

CHAPTER VI. THE REVOLUTION. 

Spirit of the People ; First Notes of Defiance ; Lexington and Bunker Hill ; 
Declaration of Independence; Enlistmeuts; Public Spirit; Depreciated 
Currency ; The Poll of Honor 80 

CHAPTER VII. SHAYS' REBELLION. 

Grievances ; Excited Town Meetings ; The Flight 106 

CHAPTER VIII. STATE AND NATIONAL AFFAIRS. 

Representation ; State Constitution ; National Constitution 117 

CHAPTER IX. EDUCATION PREVIOUS TO 1800. 

The First Districts; The First School Houses; Second Arrangement of Dis- 
tricts ; State of Education 122 

CHAPTER X. HIGHWAYS AND BY-WAYS. 

The First Roads ; Earlington ; Winchendon Lottery ; New Roads and Bridg- 
es ; The Bridge by Dr. Hall's 131 

CHAPTER XI. THE TOWN AS A PARISH. 

Preliminary; Mr. Stimpsou's Ministry ; Mr. Brown's Ministry; First Meet- 
ing House ; Second Meeting House ; Names of Pew Holders ; Location of 
the House ; Ministers' Salary ; Devotional Music ; The Town's Quarrel with 
Mr. Brown; Proceedings of the Council; The Minister's Politics ; The Stee- 
ple and Bell; Names of Donors; Decease of Mr. Pillsbury; Seeking for a 
New Minister ; Miscellaneous 145 

CHAPTER XII. CLOSE OF THE CENTURY. 

Census ; Houses ; Furniture ; School Books ; Church Music ; Dress ; The 
People industrious and happy ; Names of Married Couples in 1800 188 

CHAPTER XIII. — ANNALS ; 1800 — 1868. 



11 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 

CHAPTER XIV. — EDUCATION SINCE THE YEAR 1800. 

School Districts; Efforts for Improvement; New Arrangement of Districts; 
New Division of School Money ; High School ; Winchendon Academy ; 
Town School System; District System Abolished; New School House; 
Progress ; Names of High School Teachers ; Text Books 204 

CHAPTER XV. — ROADS AND BRIDGES. 

The Roads bounded and straightened ; Through Travel ; New Roads; Wor- 
cester and Fitzwilliam Turnpike; Contest with Turnpike Companies; A 
Sectional Struggle ; Various Improvements ; Three New Roads ; New 
Bridges 225 

CHAPTER XVI. — WINCHENDON POLITICS SINCE 1800. 

Federalism ; The Last War with England ; Hartford Convention ; Constitu- 
tional Convention of 1820; Political Parties; The Surplus Revenue; Con- 
stitutional Amendments ; The Party of Freedom ; Votes for President and 
Governor ; Love of Freedom 250 

CHAPTER XVII. — SUPPORT OF THE POOR. 

Provision for the Poor in Early Times ; Bidding off the Poor ; Town Farm and 
Poor House ; Expense of Supporting the Poor ; Names of the Masters. 26G 

CHAPTER XVIII. — WINCHENDON AT LAW. 

Tax and Poverty Cases ; The Minister's Case ; The Slave Case ; Later Cases— 
Lunenburg, Reed, Sanders 274 

CHAPTER XIX. — TEMPERANCE AND MORALS. 
Convivial Habits ; Tippling and Tavern-Haunting; Observance of the Sab- 
bath ; Private Efforts to promote Temperance ; Temperance Societies. 284 

CHAPTER XX. THE MILITIA. 

Remark of John Adams : 1st Company ; Commissioned Officers ; Training. 292 

CHAPTER XXI. — CEMETERIES. 

The Central Burying Yard ; New Boston Burying Yard ; Riverside Cemetery ; 
Consecration Services ; Catholic Cemetery 300 

CHAPTER XXII. THE CHURCHES. 

First Congregational Church ; Early History ; Church Covenant ; Death 
and Character of Mr. Stimpson ; Settlement of Mr. Brown ; Members of 
the Church in 1774, 6, 7; The Departure of Mr. Brown; Settlement of Mr. 
Pillsbury ; His death and Character ; Rev. Elam Clark ; Rev. Eber L. Clark ; 
Sermons by Drs. Robbius and Todd ; Mr. Morton's Ministry ; The Era of 
Supplies; Later Ministers ; Baptist Church in New Boston ; The Meth- 
odist CnuRCH ; Parsonage ; Names of the Preachers ; The North Con- 
gegational Church ; Ordination of First Minister ; Enlarged House and 
Bell; The Baptist Church in the Village; The Roman Catholic 



CONTENTS. 15 

Church; The Unitarian Society; School House Meetings; Past and 
Present 312 

CHAPTER XXIII. — A BILL OF MORTALITY. 
List of Aged People, deceased ; List of Aged People, living 359 

CHAPTER XXIV. — BUSINESS OF WINCHENDON. 

Farming and Stock ; The First Mills ; Wood Ware ; Cotton Mills ; Machine 
Shops ; Stores ; Carpenters ; Blacksmiths, &c. ; Amount of Business ; Sav- 
ings Bank ; National Bank 363 

CHAPTER XXV. — FIRE DEPARTMENT. 
Fire Wards ; The Pilot ; The Alert Company ; The Niagara Company 376 

CHAPTER XXVI. — LIBRARIES AND LYCEUMS. 

The First Libraries ; The Town Library ; Scientific and Literary Association ; 
Parish Library ; Sabbath School Libraries 383 

CHAPTER XXVII. — THE VILLAGES. 

The Old Centre ; The Village, or Winchendon ; Spring Village ; Waterville. 389 

CHAPTER XXVIII. — NOTEWORTHY EVENTS. 

Frosts ; Storms ; Tempests ; Sudden Deaths by Apoplexy, Heat, &c. ; Deaths 
by Accidental Drowning; Deaths by Falling Trees; Deaths by Horses, 
Teams ; Deaths by Burning ; Other Fatal Casualties ; Fires ; Cases of Sui- 
cide ; Homicides ; Superstition and Witchcraft 394 

CHAPTER XXIX. — LIST OF TOWN OFFICERS ; 

Including Moderator, Clerk, Treasurer, Selectmen, and Assessors ; also, Rep- 
resentatives, Senators, Delegates, Justices, &c 410 

CHAPTER XXX. — BIOGRAPHICS. 
Lawyers ; Physicians ; Graduates ; Other Prominent Men 421 

CHAPTER XXXI. — MISCELLANEOUS. 
Inventions ; Lapidaries ; Antiquities ; Wild Animals ; Horses ; White Cedars 
and White Swallows ; Old Elms ; Winchendon as a place of resort ; Secret 
Societies ; Population and Valuation 437 

CHAPTER XXXII. — GENEALOGY AND PERSONAL HISTORY. 

CHAPTER XXXIII. — THE WAR OF FREEDOM. 

Outbreak of the Rebellion; Effect on the public mind; Action of the Town; 
Sympathy with the Soldiers ; Volunteering ; Raising Troops in 1862 ; Rec- 
ord of 1863 ; Recruiting in 1864; Winchendon men who enlisted out of the 
State; Close of the» War ; A day of rejoicing ; Cost of the War ; List of the 
wounded, the killed, and of those who died in the service ; The new Roll 
of Honor ; A day of mourning ; Conclusion 481 

INDEX OF NAMES. 523 



IQ HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 

ILLUSTRATIONS. 

MAPS AND PLANS. 

Page. 

1. Map of the Town facin g 17 

2. Boundaries of the Town, 20 

3. Division of Lots fa ^g 43 

4. Plan of the Centre, 70 

5. Map of Winchendon and Waterville, " 389 

PICTURES. 

1 . Winchendon : Frontispiece. 

2. House of Richard Day, f acin g 45 

3. Meeting House of 1762, 151 

4. Meeting House of 1793, facing 161 

5. Town Hall, ™\ 

n x ^ — " 215 

6. Academy, ^ 

7. New School House, 

8. Methodist Church, 343 

9. North Congregational Church, 347 

10. Baptist Church, " 353 

11. Church of the Unity, 60t 

12. National Bank, " 375 

South Side View, " 391 

.___ " 393 



13 

14. Spring Village, 
15 



Picture of Silver Medal, 438 

PORTRAITS. 

1. A.P.Marvin, J 

2. Mrs. Wakefield, 

3. Hon. Artemas Hale, '— 

4. Ephraim Murdock, Esq., ^ 

5. Isaac Morse, Esq., 3 £° 

6. Alvah Godding, M. D., \f 

a 4H4: 

7. Mr. A masa Whitney, 

8. Mr. James Murdock, 463 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 



CHAPTER I.— TOPOGRAPHIC. 

SECTION 1.— LOCATION OF THE TOWN. 

" Scenes must be beautiful, which daily view'd 
Please daily, aud whose novelty survives 
Long knowledge and the scrutiny of years : 
Praise justly due to those that I describe." 

Cowpek. 

Every history has its scene, or field of action. It is a convenience 
to the reader to have the means of fixing this field exactly in his mind. 
It may be supposed by some, at first view, that it is quite needless to 
describe the location, the boundaries, the surface, and the natural 
features of so limited a portion of the State as is embraced in a town. 
But, in the first place, it is probable that only a few of the inhabitants 
of any town, can accurately give the facts included in these terms. 
Besides, it may reasonably be expected, that many descendants of 
parents who lived and died here, but who themselves left the place in 
childhood ; as well as remoter descendants who were born elsewhere, 
will have the curiosity to read the history of the " old homestead." 
Such persons will not grudge the space occupied by the following 
particulars. 



18 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 

Winchendon is one of the three border towns of Worcester county, 
on the north, having Ashburnhain on the east, and Royalston on the 
west. It is distant from Worcester, by direct line, thirty-one' miles. 
By the carriage road through Templeton, or through East Princeton, 
the distance is about thirty-five miles ; and by railroad, via Fitchburg, 
not far from forty-four miles. The distance to Boston direct, is sixty 
miles, by stage route, sixty-five miles, and by railway, sixty-eight miles. 
The latitude of the centre of the town is 42 deg., 39 min.; and the 
longitude of the same point is 4 deg., 4 min. east from the meridian 
of Washington, and 72 deg., 3 min. west from the meridian of 
Greenwich. 

The location, in respect to the level of the ocean, which must be 
regarded in learning the temperature of any locality, is very elevated. 
If the land of the town were on a perfect level, it is probable that the 
surface would be at least a thousand feet above tide-water. The top 
of the dam at Goodspeed & Wyman's establishment, where the road 
from the village to the centre crosses the river, is 1060 feet above the 
ocean. This was ascertained by Loammi Baldwin, in making the 
survey for the proposed canal between Boston and the Hudson river ; 
and by Engineer Chcesebrough, who surveyed a railroad route 
through the town. More than half the surface of the town has a 
higher elevation than this point. The temperature is therefore lower 
than in other places in the same latitude, and as a result of this, frosts 
late in the spring, and early in the fall, endanger the crops. 

SECTION 2. — ORIGINAL BOUNDARIES. 

The original were quite different from the present boundaries of the 
town. The grant made by the legislature, June 10, 1735, provided 
" that a Tract of Land of the contents of six miles square," be given 
to Abraham Tilton and others ; but the location was not specified in 
the act, except in the following indefinite manner, viz, " be laid out in 



HISTORY OP WINCHENDON. 19 

a suitable place in the western part of this Province." No informa- 
tion is given in the Records to show why the grant was located here ; 
but it is probable that this matter was arranged between the grantees 
and the officers of the provincial government, having the public lands 
in charge. The committee named in the act, were directed to 
" return the Plat of the said township to the Court ;" Avhich duty was 
doubtless performed, but we have not the record, and therefore can- 
not give the exact shape of the first " plat." In 1755, a committee 
was appointed to " run the lines and renew the bounds of Ipswich 
Canada, (now Winchendon,) and Dorchester Canada, (now Ashburn 
ham,) and any of the townships that border on Ipswich Canada." The 
committee " run the lines, and renewed the corner bounds, by adding 
stones and marking trees." Probably these bounds are the same as 
those given in the Act by which the town was incorporated in the 
year 1764. These bounds, beginning on the northeast corner of the 
township, are as follows: "South twelve degrees west, seven miles 
and two hundred rods on Dorchester Canada ; west eighteen degrees 
south, two hundred and seventy rods on Westminster ; north thirty-six 
degrees west, four miles and two hundred and twenty rods on Temple- 
ton line ; north seventy-eight degrees west, six hundred rods on Tem- 
pleton line ; north twelve degrees east, four miles and two hundred 
and sixty rods on Royalshire ; east twelve degrees south,* six miles on 
Royalshire line." The northern boundary was Royalston, (then called 
Royalshire.) This singular fact is accounted for in the following way. 
After the township was located, when the line was run between Massa- 
chusetts and New Hampshire, it was found that a strip of land about 
a mile in width, the whole length of the town, which was formerly 
supposed to belong to the latter colony, was in fact, south of the line. 
For some unknown cause, this strip was assigned to Royalston, when 
that town was incprporated, and was called Royalston leg. By 
degrees it was settled, and in 1780, by request of the inhabitants, it 



* The original reads " south seventy-eight deg. west ;" an obvious mistake. 



20 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 



was set off to Winchendon. It contained three thousand eight hun- 
dred and forty acres. The following diagram shows the original and 
the present boundaries. The dark lines bound the town as it is now ; 
the dotted lines indicate the original shape and size. 

NEW HAMPSHIRE. 



>— i 

B 
ai 

< 

O 
PS 




IPSWICH CANADA. 




O 

w 

o 

B 

00 

O 

£> 



^j 



West'r. 

section 3. — present boundaries and extent. 

By the addition of Royalston Leg, in 1780, six square miles, or 

three thousand eight hundred and forty acres, were added to the 

town ; and the eastern and western boundary lines were lengthened 

one mile ; but in 1785, it was nearly reduced to its original dimensions, 



HISTORY OP WINCHENDON. 21 

by the annexation of three thousand six hundred and eighty acres to 
Gardner, which was incorporated in that year. Since then the south- 
east boundary has undergone several changes, for the accommodation 
of land-owners on the border. The present boundaries will be found 
on the preceding page, and on the map of the town which accompa- 
nies this work. 

The northern boundary, which is the line between Massachusetts 
and New Hampshire, is six miles in length: the eastern line, on 
Ashburnham, is five miles, two hundred rods ; the Gardner line is 
three miles, and about one hundred and forty rods ;* the Templeton 
line is four miles and forty-eight rods ; and the western line remains 
as it was after the annexation of Royalston leg, five miles, and two 
hundred and sixty rods. These lengths are not mathematically exact, 
but they approximate to correctness. The circumference of the town 
is therefore twenty-four miles and about two hundred rods. The 
northern, eastern and western lines are straight ; that between Win- 
chendon and Templeton is divided into two nearly equal parts, both 
direct. The town contains something more than twenty-six thousand 
two hundred and ninety-five acres of surface, including land and water. 



SECTION 4. SURFACE; WATER, PLAINS, HILLS, &C. 

The map of the town exhibits the external features of the township 
with more accuracy than could be attained by verbal description. A 
few words however may be of use in aiding a stranger to understand 
the surface, and the general appearance of the town. 

Water. — The location and course of lakes and rivers show the 
configuration of the land. As water always Sows down hill, it is easy, 
by tracing brooks and rivers to their source, to form an idea of the 
land surface of a town, county or state. It is convenient therefore, 
in describing the surface of Winchendon, to begin by a brief reference 
to its lakes, ponds and streams. 



* That is, a diretft line from the point where the towns of Ashburnham, 
Gardner, and Winchendon unite, to a similar point between Gardner, Tem- 
pleton and Winchendon, is three miles, and nearly one hundred and forty- 
rods. The real line, which is broken by many sharp angles, is almost twice 
as long. 



22 HISTORY OF WTNCHENDOUT. 

The town is well watered. The soil is adapted to retain moisture, 
and springs abound. The elevation of the land also has some tendency 
to induce atmospheric moisture. There is but one natural lake of 
considerable size, wholly within the town. This is situated towards 
the southwest, and is called Denison pond. It covers nearly one hun- 
dred acres. It is a beautiful sheet of pure, clear water, surrounded 
by a margin of clean sand and pebbles, and adorned near the shore 
with water lilies. A small stream, by gentle descent, flows into it 
from the north, and an outlet, called Cold brook, with only fall enough 
to carry off its surplus water, opens from the south side to Miller's 
river, about a hundred rods distant. When the water in the river is 
hi»h, it flows back into the lake, and in former times, there was a 
passage where it flowed out again near the southwest comer. The 
bridge over this latter passage, was formerly called the " dry bridge," 
because it was dry except a few days in the year. For many years 
there has been no bridge, and the road has been so high that no water 
can pass it ; and the traveler would not suspect that water had ever 
had an outlet in that locality. 

In the large tract of woodland stretching north from the Butler 
Mills, (now owned by Rice & Wyman,) to the Monomonauk lake, 
are two small bodies of water, one of which is called lake Jones ; but 
they are so small in surface, and so shallow, that they require no 
farther notice. But there is one other natural pond to the southwest 
of these, which is known to but a few of the inhabitants of the town, 
but which may hereafter become a place of frequent resort. It is 
about two hundred rods south by west from the house of Mr. Stephen 
Tolman, and nearly equidistant from the Murdock and Butler Mills. 
A convenient way to reach it is found by following the Cheshire rail- 
road easterly of the Cemetery to the high sand bank. The little lake, 
enclosed by wooded hills, is just north by west of the bank. It is 
completely secluded from observation, and never seen except by those 
who stray from the haunts of men, when hunting, fishing, or searching 
for nature in her most hidden retreats. The hill, at its eastern end, 
rises abruptly about eighty feet, and is densely wooded. A stream 
comes in by several leaps, at the northeast corner. The outlet is from 
the west. It is sometimes called "Barren Hill lake," and by some 
" Lake Martin." It is suggested that a more appropriate and beau- 
tiful name would be " Sylvan Lake." 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 23 

At the northeast of the town lies Monomonauk* lake, about three 
miles in length ; but the greater part of this fine body of -water is in 
the town of Rindge, N. H. Nearly one-third of its southern and nar- 
rower part, lies in Winchendon. At this end a dam raises the water 
about eleven feet above its natural level, and so enlarges the lake 
that it covers not far from twenty-six hundred acres. It is fed 
by a large stream which flows in from the north by the Converse 
Mills in Rindge, by several rivulets, and by numerous springs, which 
combine to render it a vast reservoir of water power. 

This is the source of the north branch of Miller's river, which runs 
south by west through Spring Village, and by Murdock's mill, about 
two miles, when it is joined by the eastern branch which comes in from 
Ashburnham. The junction is near the middle of Baxter D. Whit- 
ney's pond, just northeast of Winchendon Village. Both branches 
supply about the same amount of water annually. The eastern branch 
is fed by the upper and lower Naumkeag lakes in Ashburnham, and 
by several streams. Mr. Amasa Whitney, Sr., who was for many 
years, the proprietor of the old woolen factory, used to say that the 
eastern branch supplied the most water in a year, but that the north- 
ern branch, coming from a large pond and reservoir, was the surest 
reliance in the dry season of the year. The river descends rapidly, 
and thus furnishes numerous mill-sites. There are at least a dozen 
fine water privileges in the course of four miles. The river from its 
junction flows west to the railroad bridge ; thence south to the dam of 
(joodspeed & Wyman ; thence west by south to Waterville and 
beyond ; thence in a northwesterly direction more than a mile, when 
receiving Stuart's brook from the north, it turns suddenly and runs 
south on nearly a dead level, about four miles. At this point it 
receives Otter river from Templeton, and thus enlarged, pursues its 
course in a southwesterly direction, leaving the boundary of the town 
about one-third of a mile north of its southwest corner. It never 
approaches nearer than a mile to the centre of the town, and in some 
places, is three miles distant. This river, if we count the length of 
both its branches, runs not far from fourteen miles within the limits of 



*It is sometimes written Monomonac, or Monomonoc; but auk is au 
Indian termination signifying place ; and we are told by respectable authority 
that Monomonauk means the "place of islands," as the lake in its natural 
state had several islands which are now submerged,besides others now visible. 



24 HISTORY OF WINCHENDOff. * 

the town, and is the occasion of much and varied industry, and the 
source of yearly increasing wealth. 

Priest's brook or river conies in on the west, from Royalston, about 
two and a half miles from the New Hampshire line, and flows just 
inside the western border of the town, though inclining to the east, 
and enters Miller's river not far from the junction of the Otter, and 
also the affluent from Denison lake. 

About two miles south of the centre of the town is Poor's pond. 
This was, probably, in the distant past, quite a body of water, but in 
the course of ages, it has-been nearly filled by deposits made by two 
or three streams which flow into it on the east and north. The stream 
from the east is called " Potato brook," which name, according to 
tradition, had the following origin. A party of men working on the 
highway came to this brook about noon, and took their dinner con- 
sisting mainly of potatoes, washing them down with draughts from the 
flowing water. Half in earnest and half in sport, they christened it 
Potato brook. By means of a dam at the southwest extremity of the 
pond, a large body of water is raised in the winter ; but in the sum- 
mer, nearly the whole bottom is covered with grass. The water flows 
off by a small stream in a southwest course, and joins Otter river ? 
which for a short distance, skirts the southern boundary of the town. 

Not far from a mile and a half to the southeast of Poor's pond is a 
large reservoir which lies in the extreme southern part of the town. 
This is fed by a brook coming in from the north. About a mile east 
is White's brook, which runs south and enters Otter river in Gardner. 
There are numerous other brooks and rivulets, but none of sufficient 
size to affect materially the configuration of the township, or to drive 
machinery. Perhaps an exception should be made in regard to the 
brook which comes from Rindge, and drives the Loud mill in Bullard- 
ville ; but this is included in Stuart's brook, of which it is a feeder. 
The valleys through which these various streams flow, afford many 
pleasant scenes that give a grateful variety to the landscape. Nearly 
twenty artificial ponds add beauty to the scenery while they subserve 
the uses of man. 

Hills. — The hills which give great diversity to the surface of the 
town, need not be described at length, since their location can be 
easily found on the map. But it may be truly said that Winchendon 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 25 

belongs to the " hill country" of the State. For though it contains 
more of sand-plain than any of the neighboring town3, yet it is chiefly 
made up of quite elevated hills. One hill extending in every direc- 
tion from the centre, includes nearly a fifth part of the township. It 
extends about three miles from east to west, and averages more than 
two miles in width from north to south. Its highest point, just north- 
west of the meeting house in the centre is 848 feet above the dam of 
Goodspeed & Wyman, and 1408 feet above the level of the sea. 
From this elevation the prospect is quite extensive. Wachusett moun- 
tain is visible a little east of south, about fifteen miles distant ; and 
the grand Monadnauk rises in full view, about the same distance to 
the north. At the west, some seventy or eighty miles, the long range 
of the Green mountains can be seen extending from the north part of 
Berkshire — Greylock — far up into Vermont. In the afternoon of a 
sunny day, when the shadows fall on the eastern slope of the moun- 
tains, the beholder, as his eye moves from point to point on this dis- 
tant range, is reminded of a line in Macaulay's " Farewell of the 
Huguenots to France" — 

"The long waving line of the blue Pyrenees." 

The north part of the town is occupied by another hill parallel to 
that which fills the centre. It rises from Spring Village on the east, 
and extends to Bullardville on the west, not far from three miles. Its 
summi!:., — or rather its four or five high points, — are about one mile 
from the State line. These elevations are nearly equidistant, and the 
valleys between them run at an angle with the general direction of the 
hill considered as a whole. That is, it appears as if some moving 
body, ice or water, had struck the north side of the ancient summit, 
had scooped out several passages, in a direction from north west to 
southeast, and thus left these points higher than the rest, lying angle- 
wise to the east and west direction of the hill. The hill descends 
gently towards the Village. It is covered for the most part, with 
excellent farms. Viewed from the south, in summer time, when the 
grass lands and the fields of grain, and the wooded slopes, all clothed 
with verdure, combine to make up a varied landscape, the eye roves 
over it with great satisfaction. 

A similar hill, though less in elevation and extent, sometimes called 
Raymond's hill, lies parallel to the two already described, at the 



26 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 

southern end of the town. This extends nearly two rnile3 from east 
to west, and descends gently in every direction. The south side 
slopes into Templeton. It is almost entirely covered with good and 
well cultivated farming land. Between this and the central hill, there 
are two or three smooth, rounded elevations, cultivated to the top. 
Besides these, there is a line of hills running north and south, on the 
eastern, and also on the western border, of the town, which tend 
greatly to diversify the surface. That on the east is divided by the 
eastern branch of Miller's river. There is also quite a high ridge 
between the two southern branches or horns of Monomonauk lake, 
called " Barren hill." The names of the various hills, as given in 
early times, are here copied from Mr. Hyde's History of Winchen- 
don. " Meeting House hill," just northwest from the central common ; 
" Prentiss hill," on the south side of Miller's river, and east of Water- 
ville, formerly occupied by Dea. Samuel Prentiss ; " Benjamin hill," 
between the last and the centre ; " Hale hill," a mile east of the cen- 
tre, formerly owned by Dea. Moses Hale. These. four are parts of 
the large central hill. The large hill at the north end of the town, 
has no name, but the four elevations already described are called 
respectively, beginning at the east, and going west, " Crosby hill," 
" Payson hill," formerly owned by Col. John Boynton, and now in 
possession of Capt. E. Murdock ; " Boynton hill," owned in early 
times by Lieut. Joseph Boynton, and " Goodridge hill," once the 
property of Mr. David Goodridge. " Hyde hill" is north of Miller's 
river, and northeast of Waterville. Formerly the only road from 
Waterville to the Village was over or around this hill. " Lovejoy hill," 
" Poland hill," and " Tallow hill," are divisions of the great elevation 
in the northwest section of the town. The hill occupied by the Wood- 
burys and Raymonds in the east of the town, is called " Nineteenth 
hill." " Raymond hill" has already been noticed. " Birch hill" is 
south of Miller's river, near the junction of the Otter. 

Plains and Meadows. — There is a tract of land, in the easterly 
part of the town, on the road to Ashburnham, which is of a light, 
sandy make, and very level. Bullardville is on a small plain encir- 
cled by water and woods. Between Bullardville and Waterville, by 
either road, there is another section of the same general character, 
but much more extensive. Below where the Kilburn mill used to 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 27 

stand, the plain gradually widens out towards the southern end of the 
town. This plain is between two and three miles in length, and aver- 
ages more than half a mile in width. The aggregate of these plains 
amounts to several hundred acres. Besides these there are many 
acres of meadow and intervale along the water courses, which materi- 
ally increase the proportion of level land in the town. The soil, 
whether hill, plain, valley or meadow, though not naturally rich, is 
susceptible of cultivation, and yields a fair return to well-directed labor. 

Forests. — Originally the township was a dense and almost unbro- 
ken forest, full of game. In the northeast section, there were oak 
and chestnut trees to some extent. Beech was found in different 
parts. Maple and birch were more common. Graceful elms waved 
in scattered clusters. Most of the surface however, was covered with 
pine and other evergreen trees. In bringing the land under cultiva- 
tion in early times, trees enough were destroyed to make many for- 
tunes now, if they had been preserved. And here it may be observed 
that within a few years preceding the writing of this history, large pine 
trees, which were thrown down long ago, by tempests, have been dug 
from a swamp, in the westerly part of the town, and found to be in fine 
preservation. 

Flora. — The Botany of Winchendon is similar to that of other 
towns of the same latitude and elevation, in this section of the State. 
It may be stated, as a matter of interest to some, that the Lirmcear 
Borealis, a very rare plant, is found in two or three localities in the 
town. It grows in at least two places on the east side of Poor's pond, 
near the road, and also on the land of Dea. Butler. 

Fauna. — In early times, all kinds of animals common to New 
England, roamed through the woods of Winchendon. Bears have 
been seen here since the opening of the present century. Wolves 
were not uncommon in the days of the early settlers. Deer were 
quite abundant. One of the town officers for many years after the 
organization, was a " deer reeve." The last deer seen wild in this 
town, was in 1866/ This was evidently a wandering deer, who had 
lost his reckoning. It was seen in New Boston. The otter, the lynx, 
and the mink are still found, though not abundant. Beavers disap- 
peared long since. 



28 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 

Among the rare birds are eagles, cranes, wood ducks and loons. 
One of the latter, a splendid bird, weighing sixteen pounds, was 
shot on Denison lake, a few years since. Its plumage was exceed- 
ingly beautiful. 

In old times the town annually chose a " fish reeve." His duty 
was to see to the preservation of fish, and prevent their wanton destruc" 
tion. Our waters have always furnished much sport to the disciples 
of Isaak Walton. Horn pout are abundant. Suckers find their way 
up to the Monomonauk. Pickerel are plentiful and very fine. Trout 
are found by those who know their lurking-places, and have the knack 
of winning their confidence. 



SECTION. 5 — GEOLOGY. 

Formerly large boulders of granite were scattered over the town- 
ship much more numerously than at present. These have been, to a 
great extent, split, and used for the under-pinning of buildings. The 
ledges, wherever they crop out are found to be composed of metamor- 
phic rock — and the larger part of the stones lying loose upon the sur- 
face, or under the soil, are composed of the same material. The town 
has no wealth of minerals and metals ; but quartz crystals are occa- 
sionally found, and in some places water impregnated with iron, issues 
from the ground. The principal spring of this kind, is at Spring 
Village, where a steady stream supplies many families with water for 
all household uses except washing. This spring was known to the 
Indians, and it has been in good repute ever since the white settlers 
came into this region. If a good hotel were opened in the vicinity, 
the water, in connection with conveniences for riding, hunting, boating 
and fishing, would doubtless attract much company, in the summer 
and autumn. 

Probably a scientific observer would find indications of the ice 
period which formerly prevailed in New England. But there is an 
immense boulder, near the summit of the hill, in the centre of the 
town, which must have been transported thither by floating ice, rather 
than pushed up to that elevation by a glacier. The " lay of the land" 
in every direction, seems to forbid the conclusion that this rock was 
put in place by glacial action. There is a class of facts which point 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 29 

to a period when the surface of the earth in this region, was covered 
with ice ; and there is another class of facts, which can be satisfacto- 
rily accounted for only by the theory of floating ice. In those old 
days when the land was under water, even to the highest hill-tops, 
immense icebergs were borne by the waves over this section, and 
huge boulders as well as smaller rocks, which adhered to the under 
side of the ice, were deposited, sometimes in regular order, but gener- 
ally in wild confusion. 

It is probable that in the " gray eld," the water was thrown back 
by a natural dam near Goodspeed & Wyman's works, as far as the 
Butler mill, some two and a half miles. A similar obstruction near 
the Kilburn mill flooded the meadows as far up the river as Hydeville. 
And it is hardly possible to resist the conclusion, that the waters which 
once covered all the plains in the southwest part of the town, and the 
adjoining sections of Templeton and Royalston, were held in check by 
some natural elevation at South Royalston. 



30 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 



CHAPTER II.— EXPLORATION AND SET- 
TLEMENT. 

SECTION 1. — EXPLORATION. 

" A man was famous according as he had lifted up axes upon the thick trees." 

Psalm 72 : 5. 

In giving the annals of the early settlers, it will be necessary to go 
into details, and recite the doings of the Proprietors and early settlers 
at some length. And here the author would renew his acknowledg- 
ment of indebtedness to Mr. Hyde and Dr. Whiton, for the aid they 
have rendered in making the early history of the town accessible. 
Nothing however, has been received on their authority. Every his- 
torical fact has been verified from the original authorities. 

It is probable that hunters from the lower towns passed through the 
forests which then covered all our territory, in the early part of the 
last century ; and perhaps prior to that time ; but if so, they left no 
account of their wanderings for our information. In the time of 
" Lovewell's war," as it was called, from 1722 to 1725, scouts of sol- 
diers traversed this region of country, but it is not certain that they 
crossed our boundaries. The first date which seems to connect a 
white man with Winchendon, is 1724, when Jabez Fairbanks led a 
scouting party from Groton, (then including Harvard,) to the Watatic 
mountains, Monomonauk pond, and the Pack, or little Monadnauk, 
east of Peterborough, N. H. It is not known for certainty that Fair- 
banks and his party struck the east side of our great pond or lake, 
below the state line ; but considering the lay of the land, and the 
direction of his route, it is more than probable. The Indians used the 
water of the " Yellow Spring" medicinally, and it is supposable that 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 31 

they had paths or trails to the Spring, from east to west. We may 
suppose that they moved from Groton, along southward of Watatic, in 
a westerly course, until they reached the lower end of the lake, by 
which they were deflected northwards towards Peterborough, whence 
they passed over the New Ipswich or Temple hills, and so returned to 
their homes. 

During the peace which prevailed for the most part, between 1725 
and 1744, many settlements were made in the neighborhood, as in Fitch- 
burg, Westminster, Athol, Swansey, Keene, Peterborough and New 
Ipswich ; but for some years later, the territory now comprising the 
towns of Ashburnham, Gardner, Royalston, Winchendon, Fitzwilliam, 
Rindge and Jaffrey, remained an almost unbroken wilderness. 

In 1735 this township of land was granted by the colony of Massa- 
chusetts, to certain citizens of Ipswich, in Essex county. The proceed- 
ings of the General Court, making the grant, are inserted here, as 
found in the Records of the Original Proprietors of Ipswich»Canada. 

" At a Great and General Court, in and for His Majesty's Province of the 
Massachusetts Bay in New England, begun and held in Boston, on Wed- 
nesday, the twenty-eighth day of May, 1735, and continued by several 
adjournments to Wednesday, the nineteenth of November following, 

In the House of Representatives, June 10, 1735, in answer to the peti- 
tion of Lieut. Abraham Tilton and others, 

Voted, That a Tract of Land of the contents of six miles square, be laid 
out in a suitable place in the western part of this Province, and that the whole 
of the Town be laid out into sixty-three shares ; one of w hich to be for the 
first settled minister, one for the use of the ministry, and one for the school ; 
and that on the other sixty shares there be sixty admitted ; and in the ad- 
mission thereof preference to bo given to the Petitioners, and such as arc the 
descendants of the officers and soldiers who served in the expedition to Can- 
ada in the year 1690, viz: a Tract of Land for a Towmhip to the said 
Absaham Tilton and others. And inasmuch as the officers and soldiers (who 
served in that expedition) were very great sufferers, and underwent ur com- 
mon hardships, 

Voted, that this Province be at the whole charge of laying said Township 
in a regular manner, and of admitting the settlers ; that the settlers or Gran- 
tees hereby are obliged to bring forward the settlement of said Township in 
as regular and defensible a manner as the situation and circumstances of the 
place will admit of, and that in the following manner, viz : That they be on 
the granted premises, and have each of them a house of eighteen feet square 



32 HISTORY OF WINCHENBON. 

and seven feet stud at the least ; That each Right or Grant have six acres of 
land brought to, ploughed or brought to English grass, and fitted for mow- 
ing : that they settle in the plantation or township a learned and ortho- 
dox Minister, and build a convenient Meeting-house for the public worship of 
God in the township : the whole of these conditions to be duly complied with 
within five years from the confirmation of the Plat. And that Capt. John 
Hobson and Capt. John Choate, with such as the Honorable Board shall 
appoint, be a Committee for laying out the Township hereby granted to 
Abraham Tilton and others, and admitting the settlers as aforesaid, who shall 
take bond of each grantee to the value of twenty pounds to the Province 
Treasurer for the respective grantees' fulfilment of the conditions of their 
grant. Each lot as aforesaid to be entitled to, and draw future divisions in 
equal proportions in the township or plantation : and that the Committee 
return the Plat of the said township to the Court, within twelve months for 
confirmation, as also the list of the names of the grantees, and their place of 
residence, into the Secretary's office, that so the same may be examined and 
regulated oy a Committee that may be hereafter appointed by this Court. 
And further, it is hereby ordered, that in case any of the grantees shall 
neglect or delay to fulfil the terms of the grant, such person or persons shall 
forfeit to the Province all his or their right and interest in the land hereby 
granted. 

Sent up for concurrence, 

J. QUINCY, Speaker. 
In Council, June 18th, 1735. 

Read and Concurred and Ordered, that Thomas Berry, Esq., 
be joined to the Committee for laying out the Township. 

J. WILLARD, Secretary. 

Dec. 29, Consented to, 

J. BELCHER. 

A true Copy, 

Examined, THADS. MASON, Dept. Sec'y. 

A true Copy, Attest, 

THOS. NORTON, Jun., Pro. Clerk. 

The origin of the above-cited grant was as follows, as may be found 
in the old histories. Many soldiers went from this colony, on the ill- 
fated expedition to Quebec in 1690. The surviving officers and sol- 
diers, or their descendants, petitioned the General Court for a grant 
of land, as a partial compensation for their sufferings and losses in that 
expedition. The petition was granted, and to those surviving men, 
who lived in Ipswich, or in case of their decease, to their heirs, was 



HIS-TORY OF WINCHENDON. 33 

given the territory of Winchendon, under the title of " Ipswich 
Canada." Ashburnham was styled " Dorchester Canada," Rindge, 
" Rowley Canada/' and Peterborough, " Salem Canada." In this 
measure, Lieut. Abraham Tilton, believed to have been a surviving 
officer in the old Canada expedition, appears to have taken the lead. 
His name heads the list of grantees, and he is called the " father of 
the petition." 

The act making the grant, appointed Hon. Thomas Berry, Capt. 
John Hobson, and Capt. John Choate, a committee to admit grantees, 
and to locate the township. The next step is indicated by the follow- 
ing action of the General Court. 

"In the House of Representatives, March 27, 1736, 

Ordered, That Thomas Berry, Esq., be fully authorized aud empowered 
to assemble and convene the Proprietors and Grantees in Canada Township, 
on the petition of Abraham Tilton and others of Ipswich, &c, in some suita- 
ble place and convenient time, to choose a Proprietors' Clerk, and pass such 
Votes and Orders as they may think necessary for the regular carrying on 
the settlement of the said Township, agreeable to the conditions of their 
grant, and to agree how meetings shall be called for the future." 

In April, 13th, 1736, the Committee appointed in the grant, allowed 
the claims of sixty persons, of whom fifty-two were of Ipswich, to be 
grantees and proprietors. The action of this committee is given in 
the following extract from the Proprietors' Book. 

" Essex, ss. At a Meeting of the Committee appointed by the General 
Court for the Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England, to lay 
out a Township of the contents of six miles square, in answer to a petition 
of Abraham Tilton and others, officers and soldiers in the expedition to Can- 
ada, Anno 1690, the following persons were admitted as Grantees of said 
Township, and gave bonds to fulfil the Court's Order thereon. 

Ipswich, April 13th, 1736. 



RIGHT ENTERED ON. 



Father, Thomas Berry, Esq., Ipswich. 

Own, — Jonathan Wade, Esq. , Ipswich. 

Own, , John Harris, Ipswich. 

Own, Thomas Hovey, Ipswich. 

Own, Abraham Perkins, Ipswich. 

Husband and Father, Widow Rachel Rust, Ipswich. 

Own, Abraham Tilton. Ipswich. 



31 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 

KIOHT ENTERED ON. NAME. AEOE-S. 

Own, Benjamin White, Ipswich. 

Own, Samuel Poland, Ipswich. 

Brother John, Thomas Lufkin, Ipswich. 

( Thomas Lufkin is ) 
Brother Jacob, ■< next friend to >• Ipswich. 

( Mary Lufkin, ) 

Uncle Benedictus, Ebenezer Pulcepher, Gloucester. 

Father Moses, Jabez Sweet, Ipswich. 

Father's, Solomon Giddinge, Ipswich. 

Brother William, Joseph Goodhue, Ipswich, 

Father's, William Haskell, Gloucester. 

Brother Thomas, _"._ John Ring, Gloucester. 

Uncle Joseph, Benjamin Chadwell, Ipswich. 

Brother John, Edward Nealand, Ipswich. 

T T , ta -rx • ( Nath. Rogers as Guar-) T . , 

Uncle D. Demson, j dkn to j» Q j^^ j -—Ipswich. 

Wife's Father Durgee,- --John Martin, Ipswich. 

Father Servant, Isaac Knowlton, Ipswich. 

Father's, John Thompson, Ipswich. 

( John Wood in the room ") 
Uncle Joseph, < of and by the consent >- Ipswich. 

( of his father, ) 

__ , , ( John Downing, by Ed. ) t> , 

Father's, { Eveleth his Attorney, } --"»*»• 

Own, Thomas Berrin, Rowley. 

Own, David Low, Ipswich. 

Uncle Moses Pierce, Moses Wells, •- Ipswich. 

Brother Thomas, George Hart, Ipswich. 

Father's, William Cogswell, Ipswich. 

Brother Elisha, Thomas Tredwell, Ipswich. 

Brother Benjamin, Jonathan Jewett, Jun., Rowley. 

Father's, Robert Cross, Ipswich. 

Own, Adam Cogswell, Ipswich. 

Uncle, Benjamin Chadwell , Ipswich. 

Father Whipple, The Hon. Simonds Epes, Ipswich. 

Uncle Freeman, Nathaniel Clark, Ipswich. 

Brother George, Nathaniel Clark, Ipswich. 

( Capt. Edward Eveleth by ^ 
Dil. Caldwell, •< and at the request of £- _ -Ipswich. 

( Dilingham Caldwell, ) 

Brother William, Nathaniel Caldwell, Ipswich. 

Father, Henry Wise, Ipswich. 

( Thomas Norton, Jun., at ^ 
John Ayres, < the request of Samuel Ipswich. 

( Ayres, a Petitioner, ) 

Own, John Ross, Ipswich. 

Father's, Isaac Giddinge, Ipswich. 



HISTORY OP WINCHENDON. 35 

Sf-IGETT ENTKRISD ON. NAME. ABODE. 

( Edward Eveleth at the ~) 
Thomas Metcalf, -I request of Jos. Metcalf >- Ipswich . 

( a Petitioner, ) 

Father's, Moses Davis, 1 — Ipswich. 

Grandfather, --Ephraim Fitts, . Ipswich. 

Pearce, Thomas Boardman , Ipswich . 

- — - Edward Chapman, Ipswich. 

John Goodhue, Ipswich. 

Uncle Isaac, ~ _ -Abraham Foster, Jun. , Ipswich . 

Major Ward, Doct. Nicholas Noyes, - — Andover. 

Father's, John Pindar, Ipswich. 

Uncle Samuel, Nathaniel Lord, .... Ipswich. 

Uncle Edmond, — ~- Samuel Ingalls, Ipswich. 

Brother Aaron , Moses Kimball, Ipswich . 

Uncle Cheney, John Leighton, Ipswich. 

Bob't Nelson, — - Joseph Amiable, Beverly. 

Math. Hooker, Widow Mary Hooker, Ipswich. 

f Thomas Lord, Jun., at~) 
Uncle Sauna 1 ,--- •< his Father, Jno. Lord's > -Ipswich. 

( request, j 

The above-named proprietors met on the 31st of May, and chose 
Thomas Norton, Jr., a graduate of Harvard, and Preceptor of the 
Grammar School in Ipswich, as their Clerk. The warrant calling the 
meeting is given in a note at the bottom of the page.* No apology 
can be needed for giving the proceedings of the first Meeting of the 
" Proprietors and Grantees," in full, in the body of this narrative. 
The record, copied from the Proprietors' Book, is as follows :— 

" At a legal meeting of the Proprietors and Grantees of the new Town- 
ship lately granted to Mr. Abraham Tilton and others, officers and soldiers 
in the expedition to Canada Anno 1G90, at the Town house in Ipswich on 
Monday the 31st day of May, Anno Domini 1736. 

Voted. That Col. Thomas Berry be Moderator. 

Voted, That Thomas Norton, Jun., be Clerk to the Proprietors: and he 



* " The Proprietors and Grantees of the new Township lately granted to 
Mr. Abraham Tilton and others, officers and soldiers in the expedition to Can- 
ada Anno 1690, are hereby notified and warned to assemble and meet at the 
Town-house in Ipswich, on Monday the thirty-first day of instant May at four 
of the clock afternoon, then and there to choose a Proprietor's Clerk, and to 
pass such votes and orders as may be thought most proper for bringing for- 
ward the said Township agreeable to the General Court's order. And to agree 
how to call meetings of said Proprietors for the future. 

Thojias Berry, per order. 
Dated at Ipswich, May 20th, 1736." 



36 HISTORY OF WTNCHENDON. 

was sworn to the faithful discharge of his office, by Thomas Berry, Esq.. 
at the same time. 

Voted, That any two of the Committee, viz : Col. Thomas Berry, Capt. 
John Choate, and Capt. John Hobson, be empowered to employ two men to 
burn the woods, if according to their discretion, they shall think it best. 

Voted, That any five of the Proprietors or Grantees shall have power to 
call a Meeting, and five days from the date of the notification shall be a suf- 
ficient warning. 

Voted, That this meeting be dissolved : and the Moderator declared the 
Meeting dissolved accordingly. 

Attest: Tuos. Nohton, Jun., Pro. Clerk. 

In June of this year, the " Court's Committee" consisting of Messrs. 
Berry, Hobson, (or Hopson,) and Choate, already mentioned, " went 
up the country," located the township, and designated its boundaries. 
It is probable that this Committee made a report in writing, to the 
General Court ; but there is no trace of it, except in its results, in the 
Records of the town. 

From this time, when we fix the first authentic date of the advent of 
white men to this place, there was an interval of thirteen or fourteen 
years before a settlement was actually made. The proprietors had 
various meetings in Ipswich, and took measures to lot out the land, 
but the troubled condition of the country prevented settlement. At 
one of these meetings, held on the 28th of June, 1736, Capt. Edward 
Eveleth, Lieut. Solomon Giddinge, Mr. Win. Cogswell, Mr. John 
Martin, and Mr. Isaac Giddinge, were appointed a " Committee to 
go and view the land, and see the qualifications thereof, and report to 
the Proprietors as soon as may be." Their guide was Thomas Bennet, 
probably an old hunter and trapper, familiar with the region. 

At another meeting, held on the fourth day of November, following, 
Col. Thomas Berry, Capt. Edward Eveleth, and Lieut. Abraham Til- 
ton were chosen a Committee " to lot and lay out the first division, 
which is not to be under fifty acres, and not to exceed a hundred." 
Jonathan Wade, Esq., was chosen Treasurer, and an assessment of 
three pounds, on each Proprietor, was laid, to defray charges. On 
the sixth of May, 1737, a meeting was held, at which Col. Thomas 
Berry, Thomas Norton, Jun., and Mr. Henry Wise, were chosen 
Assessors, and Capt. Edward Eveleth, and Mr. William Cogswell, 
Collectors. 



HISTORY OP WINCHENDON. 37 

This year Jeremiah Hall was employed by the people of Keene to 
ay out a road from that place to Townsend and Lunenburg. It 
jassed through this place, and was a mere horse path, indicated by 
narked trees. 

The next meeting was held on the 27th of October, 1637, and as 
his was a meeting of great importance, in its results ; and as it sheds 
nuch light on the state of things at the time, it will be inserted in full. 
Che warrant is as follows : 

"■Essex, ss. To Mr. Thomas Norton, Jun., Clerk of the Proprietors of 
he Township lately granted to Mr. Abraham Tilton and others, officers and 
oldiers in the expedition to Canada, 1690. 

You are hereby required to notify and warn the Grantees and Proprietors 
f the Township lately granted to Mr. Abraham Tilton and others, officers 
nd soldiers in the expedition to Canada Anno 1690, that they assemble and 
deet at the house of Mr. Nath'l Tredwell inn-holder in Ipswich, on Thursday 
lie 27th day of October current, at 4 of the clock afternoon, then and there 
o receive the return of the Committee appointed to lay out the first division 
f lots, and subdivide the same or part of them, if the Proprietors shall 
hink best. 

2. To make proper and suitable provision for ways through said lots. 

3. To agree upon some method for clearing to the centre of the first divi- 
ion of lots, or where they shall agree upon to set the first Meeting-house. 

4. To fix upon the place to erect and build a Meeting-house, and to 
sserve a sufficient quantity of land out of some of the lots for a training field 
nd burying place. 

5. To make proper allowance to the person who may draw the lot out 
f which the aforesaid reserves may be made. 

6. To give liberty to such of the Proprietors as may draw a lot not 
ccommodable for settling, to make a second draft out of the supernumerary 
its that are laid out. 

7. To make suitable provision for the erecting and building of a Saw-mill. 
S. To give such encouragement to the Grantee who shall build, agreeable 

) the General Court's order, the first dwelling-house of 18 feet in length 
nd 7 feet stud, as shall be judged necessary and convenient. 

9. For each Grantee to draw his lot in the first division now laid out ; 
nd such of them as havp not already paid the three pounds voted at the last 
leeting to defray the charge of laying out the lots, pay the same before they 
o allowed to draw their lots. 

10. To take some proper method to obtain leave of the General Court to 



■ b HISTORY OF WINCHENDOJT. 

dispose of lots that may be lost to any of the Grantees who shall neglect aecl 
refuse to pay the charge that hath already arisen in laying out the lots and 
othcrways. 

11. To settle and adjust accounts with such persons to whom the Gran- 
tees and Proprietors are indebted, 

Thomas Berry, 
Edward Eyeleth, 
Abraham Tilton,. 
Henry Wise, 
Jonathan Wade. 
Dated Ipswich, Oct. 22d; 1737/' 

Then follows the return of Mr. Norton, the Cleric, certifying that 
he bad given due notice, after which we find! the following record of 
the proceedings of the Meeting, 

"At a legal Meeting of the Proprietors of the Township lately gra nted by 
the General Court to Mr. Abraham Tilton and others, officers and soMiers in 
the expedition to Canada, Anno Domini, 1690, at the house of Mr. Nath'I 
Tredwell in Ipswich on Thursday the 27 tb of Oct., 1737. 

Voted, That Col. Thomas Berry be Moderator. 

Voted, That the return of the Committee appointed to lay out the first 
division of lots be accepted and recorded, being a hundred acres in each lot. 

Voted, That the land left for ways be reserved for the Proprietors' use 
and service, as they shall order and direct. 

Voted, That 5 acres be reserved out of No. 1 in the South division, for 
building a Meeting-house on, a burying place and training field. And that 
an equivalent be allowed out of lot No. 30, in the South division, to the 
Proprietor drawing lot No. 1. 

Voted, That there be a road cut from Earlington, [in Northfiehl,] as near 
as may be to the Meeting-house lot, at the charge of the Proprietors. 

Voted, That liberty may be given to such of the Proprietors as may draw 
a lot not accommodable for settling, to make a second draft out of the super- 
numerary lots that aje already laid out ; if not in them, then in the undi- 
vided lands, at his own charge that desires it*. 

Voted, That the use of the streams running through the Township ba* 
reserved to the Proprietors, and they shall have libsrty to set up such mills- 
as they shall think necessary for the Proprietors for sis: years to come. The' 
person through whose land the stream shall pass, to' erect a mill if he think; 
proper: but on his refusal, the Proprietors may and shall dispose thereof as 
they shall think best, without making any other allowance to the Proprietoir 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 39 

of said lot than for such damages as may be done on his land, but none for 
the stream. And that no mill be erected on said Township, but by the 
allowance of the Proprietors, for the aforesaid term of six years. 

Voted, That the sum of twenty pounds be allowed and paid out of the 
Proprietors' treasury to each of the three Grantees who shall first build three 
houses in the Township, agreeable to the General Court's act, and have a 
family settled in them; provided the family be settled there on or before the 
last of October next. 

Voted, That each Grantee pay the sum of three pounds before he be 
allowed to draw his lot. 

Voted, That Mr. Abraham Tilton, the father of the Petition, be allowed 
to choose his lot.* 

Voted, That the lots No. 14 and 15 in the south division be reserved for 
the Proprietors' order. 

Voted, That the lot No. 1, in the north division be the Ministry or 
Parsonage lot. 

Voted, That the lot No. 31 in the south division be the Minister's lot. 

Voted, That this Meeting be adjourned to Thursday the third of Nov. next. 
at four of the clock afternoon, to meet at this place." 

Here follows a list of the proprietors, and of each right drawn for 
■each proprietor, according to the plan reported by the Committee 
appointed Nov 4th, 1786. This was the first division. To accom- 
pany this list of proprietors, a fac simile of the plan, as found in the 
Record Book of the Proprietors, has been carefully prepared. This 
is a most valuable addition to the History of the town, as it enables 
the reader to see just where the rights of those who became proprie- 
tors by the first and second divisions of the town were located. Only 
n part of the town was divided into lots, on the first plot. Those 
bounded by the black line composed the first division. In the first 
plot, the numbering was from 1 to 36, south division, and from 1 to 35, 
north division. When filled up, the remainder was divided into lots 
numbering from 1 t<i 194. When Royals ton leg was annexed, the 
numbers of the lots were from 96 to 113. The second division will be 
found on a subsequent page. 



*He chose the lot Xo. 30, in the north division-. 



40 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON, 



FIRST DIVISION. 

NAMES. RIGUTS. SAVES, RIGHTS. 

Lt. Abraham Tilton,-_N. D. No. 30 Isaac Giddinge,--'-— N. D. No. 5 

Thomas Lord, Jun.,-8. D. No. 26 i Thos. Boardman N. D. No. 32 

Moses Davis, S. D. No. 27 j Thos. Tredwell S. D. No. 34 

Widow Mary Hooker, _N. D. No. 17 Nath'l Tredwell, N. D. No. 31 

Isaac Knowlton, S. D. No. 16 j Hon. Thomas Berry, ) „ ^ ^ 9 

Edward Eveleth N. D. No. 35 Esq. | °" "' MOm * 

JohnRing, N. D. No. 25 Jonathan Jewett, Jr.,-S. D. No. 3f> 

John Martin, N. D. No. 12 Joseph Amiable, N. D. No. 28 

Rev. Nath'l Rogers, ) M ^ v J Henry Wise N. D. No. 19 

for J. Denison, j W ' U ' - j Joseph Goodhue, S. D. No. 20 

George Hart N. D. No. 22 John Goodhue, N. D. No. 29 

John° Leigh ton, S. D. No. 9 Moses Kimball S. D. No. 5 

Edward Chapman, — -N. D. No. 2 Adam Cogswell, S. D. No. 18 

John Pindar, N. D. No. 23; Kphraiui Fitts, S. D. No. 10 

Benj. Chadwell, N. D. No. 26^ John Downing, N. D. No. 4 

David Low N. D. No. 8 Thos. Hovey, N. D. No. 21 

Benjamin Chadwell,-N. D. No. lo l School, N. D. No. 10 

John Ross N. D. No. 18 \ .Nath'l Clark N. D. No. 7 

Edward Nealand, S. D. No. Samuel Poland . .N. D. No. 18 

John Wood, S. D. No. i Abraham Perkins, N. D. No. 33 

Moses Welles N. D. No. 3 Jabez Sweet, S. D. No. 13 

Edward Eveleth, S. D. No. 7 Benj. White, S. D. No. 11 

Widow Rachel Rust, __S. D. No. 3 I John Thompson, S. D. No. 30 

William Cogswell, 8. D. No. 23 Jonathan Wade, Esq..- N. D. No. 4 

Samuel Ingalls, N. D. No. 24 j Thos. Lufkin, N. D. No. 10 

Hon. Simonds Epcs, ) q ^ Vn A John Harris, N. D. No. 27 

Esq., J ' Solomon Giddinge,— S. D. No. 22 

Doct. Nicholas Noyes,_S. D. No. 12 Wm. Haskell S. D. No. 29 

Thos Norton Jr., S. D. No. 25 Ebenezer Pulccpher,-_S. D. No. 32 

Thomas Perrin, N. D. No. 14 Nath'l Clark S. D. No. 36 

Robert Cross _ ___N. D. No. 20 Abraham Foster, Jr.,_S. D. No. 
Thos. Lufkin', S. D. No. 33 Nath'l Lord, N. D. No. 34 

The meeting at which the above allotment was made, was adjourned 
to the 3d of November, when certain accounts were allowed, which 
are considered of sufficient interest to he placed in a note.* 



* '• The Proprietors of the Township, 
173G, March. 



To Thomas Berry, 



Dr. 



£1, 10, 



To a Book of Records, 

To a journey to Lancaster to secure the laying- out of the Town 

ship, expense, horse, &c, 
To 1 clay's attendance on the Grantees and admitting, 
To £ day in said service, 

To a copy of the Plan K., from the Sec'ry's office, 
To a journey and service in laying out the lots, expenses, &c, 
Errors excepted, 

Pr. Thomas Berry 



5, 00, 
0, 15, 
0, 07, G 
0, 15, 

5, 00, 



HISTORY OF WTXCHENDOX-. 41 

Meetings with reference to erecting a meeting-house, laying out 
roads, and building mills and bridges, were held in 1737, 1738, and 
1742. These matters will be referred to in their proper place, more 
at length. 

An incident may be recorded here, which has no precise dates 
but which tradition sanctions. During the years whose record has 



The Proprietors, <&c, To John Houson, Esq., Dr. 

To 1 day's attendance admitting Grantees, £0, 15. 

Voted, That the acc'ts of Col. Thomas Berry, and John Hobson, 
Esq., above written, be allowed and paid out of the Proprietors' 
treasury to them in full discharge thereof. 

Ipswich Canada Grantees, Br. 

>736. 

Paid to the Deputy Scc'ry for copies, £0, 10, 

To 1 todays' attendance in admitting Grantees. 1, 02, 6 

To a journey up the country, horse and expenses included, 5, 00, G 



Total, £G, 13, 

Errors excepted, 

John Choatk." 

The above account was allowed, and the sum of £G1, G, was voted to 
Thomas Berry, Esq.. in discharge of the accounts of Messrs. "Wheeler, Par- 
ker, "Wetherbee, Richardson, Bellows, a«d the two surveyors, for laying out 
the first division in the Township. 

"Oct. 27, 1737. The Community of Irswicn Canada, Dr. 

To Abraham Tilton for 17 days' work at 15s pr. day, £12, 15, 0" 

This account was allowed, and also 13s per day to the following persons 
who assisted in lotting out the Township, 17 days each; viz, Jolin Martin, 
Isaac Martin, Thomas Brown, Francis Goodhue, and John Martin, Jr., 
amounting to £11, 1, to each of them. 

" Voted, That six pounds be allowed and paid out of the treasury to such 
Proprietor as shall cut a horse way from Earlington road to the Meeting- 
house lot. 

Voted, That the sum of £3. 03, 2, the expenses of the house, be allowed 
and paid out of the treasury to Mr, Xath'l Tredwcll." 

■" The Propiuetous, &c, Dr. 

To the Committee that went to view the Township, viz, Edward 
Eveleth, Abraham Tilton, Solomon Giddinge, John Martin, 
and Isaac Giddinge-, Sept. 28 to Oct. 1736, D days "each at 5.5s 
pr. day, £33, 15, 

To paid John Bcmnet the pilot, 3, 00, 

4 Total, £36, 15, 

Errors excepted, 

Edward Eveleth." 

This account was allowed, and at an adjourned meeting "liberty was 
granted to draw John Downing's lot, but not to be recorded till he shall have 
paid his three pounds." 



42 HISTORY OF WISCTIEtfDON. 

just been given, visits were made from time to time, by the grantees, 
to their wild lands. On one of these excursions, a man named Denison, 
supposed to be a descendant of Maj. Gen. Denison, famed in the early 
history of Massachusetts, " being lost in the woods," says Dr. Whiton, 
" climbed a tree to command a wider range of prospect, and thus dis- 
covered the gleaming waters of the beautiful lake in the southwest 
part of the town, which after him took the name of Denison pond." 
Let this be noted, that the common error in spelling the name may be 
corrected. In one map it ia called Denace, and in another, Dennis 
pond. Mr. Hyde's history gives it correctly. Denison might well 
have been pleased with the incident, though perplexing at the time, if 
he could have foreseen that his name was to be forever associated with 
this charming little lake. 

In 1740, the true boundary line between New Hampshire and 
Massachusetts was run, when it was found that a strip of land on the 
north end of this town, about a mile in width, which had been inclu- 
ded in the bounds of N. II., really belonged to the elder colony. 
But for some unaccountable reason, this strip was given to Royalston, 
and was known as " Royalston leg." Subsequently it was annexed 
to Winchendon, and it includes all the northern part of the town, 
about a mile wide. 

In the year 17-12, a second division of lots was voted, but it does 
not appear to have been made before 1761. By this division, each 
original holder, or his successor by inheritance or purchase, drew by 
lottery, three lots. The arrangement was as follows : but the reader 
must bear in mind that in the plot the same number in several casc3, 
is marked on two or three different lots, and therefore when one of 
these numbers is repeated below, it docs not refer to a lot bearing that 
number already appropriated. For example, No. 2, north division 
was assigned to Edward Chapman, and No. 2, south division, to 
Thomas Berry, at the first division of lots. It follows that the No. 2, 
drawn by John Goodhue in the last division of the lots, was a third 
No. 2. The reader will notice that the first division — surrounded by 
the heavy black line — was divided into north and south divisions. 
This is indicated on the right or cast side of the Plan by the letters 
N. and S. 



HISTORY OF WIXCHENDON". 



43 



SECOND DIVISION. 



NAMES. 

Abraham Tilton, 71, 

Thomas Lord, 176, 

Moses Davis, 80, 

Mary Hooker, 47, 

Edward Eveleth, 37, 

Job u Ring, 19, 

John Martin, 1G4, 

Nathaniel Rogers,-- 35, 
Isaac Knowlton,---- 48, 

George Hart, 181, 

John Lighten, — 69, 

Edward Chapman,-- 15, 

John Pindar. 174, 

Benjamin Chad well, 109, 

David Low,- 87, 

John Ross, 38, 

Edward Nealand , 178, 

John Wood, 83, 

Moses Welles 81, 

Edward Eveleth, 167, 

Rachel Rust, 50, 

William Cogswell, __1 17, 

Samuel Iugalls, 159, 

Simond Epes, 114, 

Nichols Noys, 45, 

Tbo. Norton, 168, 

Tho. Perring 18, 

Robert Cross, 120, 

Tho. Lufkin 101, 

Isaac Giddings, 106, 

Tho. Boardman, 7, 

Tbo. Tredwell, 100, 



157 


156' 


105 


42 


39 


179 ; 


184 


9 


162 


104; 


97, 


76 


22 


149 


153 


94 


23 


136 


44 


130 


40 


95 


86 


154 


115 


132! 


152 


133 


175 


93 


34 


02 


160 


151 


139 


64 


150 


187 


102 


14S 


77 


142 


171 


166 


119 


40 


17 


98 


88 


158 


72 


, 1 


146 


124 


116 


8 


78 


113 


118 


00 


33 


183 


129 


14' 



NAMES. RIGHTS. 

Nath'l Caldwell,.— 137, 51, 5 

Tho. Berry, 92, 135, 141 

Jonathan Jewet, 43, 73, 52 

Joseph Annable, 91, 75, 11 

Henry Wise, 172, 82, 24 

Joseph Goodhue, 123, 110, 188 

John Goodhue, 2, 127, 96 

Moses Kimball, 180, 155, 131 

Adam Cogswell, 59, 126, 145 

EphraimFitts, 49, 112, 1G3 

John Downing, 99, 60, 26 

Tho. Hovey, 122, 79, 61 

School Lots, 193, 170, 70 

Nathaniel Clark,--- 27, 10, 84 

Samuel Poland,.— Ill, 16, 89 

Abram Perkens, 28, 60, 67 

Jabcz Sweet 68, 161, 53 

Benjamin White, 121, 182, 20 

John Thomson, 58, 143, 144 

Jonathan W 7 adc, 36, 6, 128 

Tho. Lufkin, 85, 4. 56 

John Ilaris, 63, 31, 13 

Solomon Giddings,-- 57, 147, 125 

William Haskell,_--194, 109, 105 

Eben'r Pulcepher,-- 54, 180, 55 

Nath'l Clark,------ 32, 177, 41 

Abram Foster, 12, 103, 29 

Nath'l Lord, 107, 140, 134 

Benj. Chadwell, 25, 173, 138 

Minister's Lots, 74, 65, 185 

Ministerial Lots, 108, 21, 3 



SECTION 2. SETTLEMENT. 



About nine years passed away. At length, in 1751, the " Old 
French and Indian war," as it is known in history, having been 
brought to a close about two ycar3 previously, the Proprietors made 
new efforts to effect a real settlement. They sent up a committee to 
run the lines and renew the bounds between this and the adjoining 
townships. They were also directed " to take care of the mill irons, 
and to see what condition the meeting-house and mill arc in." Bridle 
paths had been opened through the woods ; the territory had been 



44 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 

traversed in every direction ; and the way Avas opened for settlers. 
And now, on the 29th of January, 1752, the Proprietors took a deci- 
sive step, which led to actual results. They voted £100, " old tenor," 
equivalent to about forty-four silver dollars, to each one of the first 
ten men who should by the first of November next, build a dwelling- 
house, and settle a family in the township. The result Avas, ten fami- 
lies erected log houses, and planted themselves here, this season, some 
of Avhom stood their ground through the perils of the next French and 
Indian war, Avhich soon began to rage. The following extract from 
the Proprietors' Book Avill be read with interest, as it shows who Averc 
engaged in the actual settlement. 

" March 10, 1752. Thomas Brown sent his claim to be received for one of 
the first settlers. 1 . 
Edward Eveleth enters his claim for two of the first set- 
tling families. 2. 
" 16, '" Ezekiel JeWett enters his claim for one of the first 

settlers. 1 . 
" 31, " The Hon. Thomas Berry put in his claim for two settling 
families. 2. 
April 4, Thomas Brown desires the privilege of being admitted for 

two more settling rights. 2. 
" 18, " Col. Tho. Berry claims a privilege for one more of the 

first settling families. 1. 
" 23, " Edward Eveleth desires the pmilege for one more set- 

tling family." 1. 

The next year, 1753, the settlers put up a small frame of a meet- 
ing-house, a few rods south of the old burying ground, this spot hav- 
ing been originally selected as the centre. That frame Avas never 
occupied for public worship, nor even enclosed ; hut Avas soon sold, on 
conviction that the present centre common— on " the Kill"— was a 
better site for a meeting-house and training field. But let it be 
recorded to their honor, that the first ten families, the year after they 
liad built log cabins for themselves, undertook to erect a house of God. 

The names of the first settlers will be read with increasing interest 
as the years of their pioneer labors recede into the past. The follow- 
ing list, says Dr. Whiton, is nearly correct, and in relation to most of 
them, certainly so. By far the most prominent man among them, was 
the Hon. Thomas Berry, one of the leading citizens of Ipswich, Avho 
settled on the place formerly belonging to Stephen Tolman, and now 
oAvned by Samuel Woodbury, resided there a portion of each of the 



i 




Day H^usd, 1?§2, 



SIS-TORY OF WINCHENDON. 45 

two or three subsequent years, and then returned to. Ipswich, where 
he died, August 12, 1756. He was thus a resident, though, not 
legally an inhabitant of the town. Lieut. Tilton. was also here, at 
times, and did much in effecting the settlement. Another prominent 
man, of considerable wealth and influence, who though he never became 
a resident, was a large landholder, was active in promoting the settle- 
ment, and occasionally visited his lands here, was Dr. Joseph Man- 
ning of Ipswich. His name is introduced for the sake of an amusing 
anecdote which occurred on one of his visits, and which will be related 
in connection with a name soon to be mentioned,. Richard Day was 
a permanent settler, and built the house now owned by Mr. Josiah 
Dunn, more than a hundred and sixteen years since [1752]. He was 
the first deacon of the church, and was killed by the fall of a tree, 
many years afterwards. He was a useful man, and his decease was 
much lamented. 

Thomas Wilder, supposed to have been a brother of the Hon. Abel 
Wilder, was a respectable man, but left the place soon, probably on 
account of the war. 

Abijah Smith was a man of influence. He soon left, but came back 
after the war. * 

Gabriel Pushey, or Pouchey, was a French refugee from Nova 
Scotia or Cape Breton, lived in a fortified house on the south side of 
the common, and at his death, left a widow who survived to extreme 
old age. Some of her descendants of the seventh generation, now 
reside in the town. We now come to the anecdote of Dr. Manning. 
It is told of the old lady, then young however, that having received of 
the Dr., a cake of chocolate, with the direction to prepare it for him 
against his return to dinner, and being unwilling to acknowledge her 
ignorance of the article, she came to the sage conclusion that it was to 
be boiled with pork and potatoes. After some time, exploring the din 
ner pot with a fork, to see if the cake was done, she was astonished at 
its disappearance. 

William Holt lived on or near the common, where his daughter 
Mary was born, Nov. 15, 1768. She was the first child born in town, 
was afterwards known as Mrs. Bosworth, lived on the hill in the east- 
ern edge of Royalston, just beyond the Howard saw-mill, and died in 



46 HISTORY OP WINCHENDOX. 

1847. According to tradition, there were but six women residentin 
the town ; of course some of the first settlers were unmarried men. 

John Darling was probably another of the ten, and lived on the 
Jason Keith farm. 

William Moffat settled, it is believed, in the west part of the town. 

Eight of the ten have now been named. From 1752 to 1755, Ben- 
jamin Goodridge, Thomas Jewett, Joshua Priest, David Wilder, Ben- 
oni Boynton, Nathaniel Burnham, John Moffat and John Brown, were 
added to the number. Two of these were among the original ten, 
but which of them is not now known. Some of them left during the 
war, but soon returned. 

The first born male child in the place, was Nathan Pushey, who on 
this account, received from the Proprietors, when he arrived at the 
age of twenty-one, the donation of a lot of land, and soon after died 
in the revolutionary war. 

In this connection, we may fix some of the first habitations of the 
original settlers. There were, as appears from the Records, and 
according to tradition, several block-houses -or buildings made of 
hewn logs, which were occupied as garrisons or forts. One of these 
was on the plain near the mill in Bullardville. ^mother in which 
Mary Holt, the eldest child of the town, was born, stood near the 
south end of the old Meeting-house Common. This was occupied, says" 
Mr. Hyde, by Dea. Moses Hale, as a dwelling for sometime before 
removing into his own dwelling-house. There was another near the 
east line of the farm of Mr. Jacob Hale, senior, which he occupied as 
a dwelling-house, within the memory of persons now living, [1868.] 

A fourth was some twenty rods east of Tallow Hill school-house, 
near the house where the late venerable Mrs. Eddy lived. A fifth 
was near the spot where Mr. Samuel Woodbury now resides ; and 
still another not far from the house now occupied by Mr. William 
Willoby. One of the best houses erected in the early times was built 
about 1752, by Dea. Richard Day. It still stands on the high ground 
a little west of the south end of the Common. It is a large two story 
house, and by care, may be occupied by generations yet to come. It 
was at one time owned by Rev. Mr. Brown, the second minister of 
the town ; and at subsequent periods has been in the possession of 
Rev. Messrs. Malachi Bullard, John Storrs, and B. P. Clarke ; now 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 47 

occupied by Mr. Dunn. About the same time, a house was built on 
the spot now covered by the residence of Charles J. Rice, Esq. This 
was occupied as a tavern for many years, being convenient for towns- 
men and travelers, at the southeast corner of the Common. This 
house was kept successively by Matthew Knight, Samuel Griggs, 
Francis Bridge, Bemsley Lord, Joshua Gale, Luther Stimson, James 
McElwain and Phinehas Whitney. There was another house occu- 
pied by James Mansfield, near the old burying ground. Gabriel 
Pouchey, or Pushey, dwelt in a house near the southwest of the Com- 
mon. Col. Thomas Berry put up a house where Dea. Desire Tolman 
afterwards lived. 

On the 24th of October, 1758, the first Proprietors' meeting was 
held within the township, at the house of Richard Day, and adjourned 
to the next day, when it was voted to grant the meeting-house frame 
to Col Berry, on condition that he would furnish a room in his house 
for religious meetings. 

The war alarm induced the settlers to grant £300 old tenor, for 
the purpose of fortifying some of the houses ; at the same time a sum 
of money was raised to procure some supply of preaching during the 
ensuing winter. The proceedings of the meeting held at the house of 
Richard Day, Oct. 31, 1754, were as follows: 

" Voted, That something further shall be done in fortifying the township. 

Voted, That the sum of three hundred pounds, old tenor,* be raised in 
order to fortify the township : fifty pounds of which is to fortify Mr. Darling's 
house, and fifty pounds to fortify Mr. Boynton's house, and one hundred 
pounds toward defraying the acc't, of fortifying Thomas Jewett's house. 

Voted, That Col. Thomas Berry's house shall be fortified, and that one 
hundred pounds, old tenor, be allowed therefor, the said Berry to pay what 
farther sum shall be needed to complete the garrison, which he agreed to. 

Voted, That Col. Berry, Capt. Goodridge, and Mr. Smith be a committee 
to see that the garrisons arc completed." 

" The spring of 1755, " says Dr. Whiton, " found the people in 
their fortified houses, of which there were some half dozen, as Berry's, 
Jewett's, Darling's, Boynton's, and Pushey 's ; two of the number so 
well strengthened, as to be called forts. About planting time the set- 

* £100 old tenor was equal to £13, 6, 8, lawful money, and $44.45 federal 
money. 



48 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 

tiers had certain proofs that Indians with hostile purpose were trav- 
ersing the woods. Their perils will be best learned from their Peti- 
tion, dated June 7, 1755, to the government of Massachusetts for 
protection." It is here given verbatim, a copy having been obligingly 
furnished by Frederic Kidder, Esq. of Boston, as found in the ancient 
records of the Commonwealth. 

'• PETITION OF IPSWICH CANADA. 

To his Excellency William Shirley, Esq., Captain General and Grovernor- 
m-Chief in and over his Majesty's Province of the Massachusetts Bay ; to 
the Honorable, his Majesty, s Council, and House of Representatives, in 
General Court assembled ; the Petition of the inhabitants of the place called 
Ipswich Canada, in the County of Worcester, hereby sheweth, that there are 
eight families of us now living in said plantation,, which is at least eighteen 
miles from Lunenburg, the nearest place that is settled, or that can possibly 
afford us any help in case of an attack by the Indian enemy, which we v,iv. 
in daily fear of; and although the Proprietors of said plantation did in Oct. 
last, build two good and sufficient forts ; yet we being poor and but new 
beginning in a very thick wooden country, and having all our provision to 
buy and being from Lunenburg, Lancaster, or droton, &c, whereby it 
becomes impossible for us to maintain our families and keep the forts : unless 
we are protected, must of necessity leave the place and go off, which we are 
exceedingly unwilling to do, and give ground to the enemy, having laid out 
all the small substance we had here, and have no where to go for refuge — 
if we must leave our crops now on the ground, we and our families will be 
finally undone. We are sensible that Indians are about us, for we hear them 
shoot, especially on the 28th of May wo heard no less than seven guns shot in 
the woods above us. We scouted the next day, but made no discovery. 
We are all now shut up in the forts, and know not how soon we shall be 
beset or destroyed. Therefore your Petitioners humbly pray your Excel- 
lency and Honors would take our distressed case into your wise and com- 
passionate consideration, and grant us relief and protection, as in your great 
wisdom and goodness shall seem meet. And your Petitioners as in duty 
bound shall ever pray. 
(Signed,) 

Gabriel Pushet, David Wilder, 
Richard Day, John Brown, 

Thomas Jewett, Nathaniel Blodget, 
William Holt, Joshua 1'RiESt, 
John Moffet, William Moffet." 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 49 

In the words of Dr. Whiton, " this simple and artless recital sets 
forth more impressively than any studied elegance, the fear and dis- 
tress which existed among the little band who dwelt at the time in 
Winchendon, a fear showed by all the neighboring settlements ; the 
people of Athol often went armed to public worship, and their pastor, 
Rev. Mr. Humphrey, who had been ordained in that place, 1750, 
carried his gun in times of alarm into his pulpit, placing it where he 
could lay his hand on it in a moment." 

There is some traditionary evidence that the earnest petition of the 
feeble company of settlers for governmental protection, was not 
unheeded. A very aged man who died some years ago in Stoddard, 
N. H., used to relate, that he and a few other soldiers were for a time 
stationed at Winchendon ; and that he once went on a scout through 
the Avoods between Ashburnham and Athol, probably following pretty 
nearly the course of Miller's river, and making the Pushey house their 
headquarters. One of these soldiers was named Robert Bradish, 
who afterwards became a settler, and the gun which he carried, is now 
in existence, and owned by Mr. Luke Rice. But no life was lost in 
Winchendon, and not even a drop of blood was shed, in consequence 
of Indian raids. 

In 1758 we come to an important event, not only to the town, but 
especially to Winchendon Village. The Proprietors offered one hun- 
dred and twenty dollars and a lot of land, to the person or persons 
who should build a grist-mill in the township, keep it in repair, and 
grind for lawful toll for ten years. The next year, 1759, Bartholo- 
mew Pearson built the mill in the Village, a work which the people 
hailed with joy, and deemed a great acquisition, as it saved the hard 
labor of conveying their grain for grinding, on roads winding among 
roots and rocks, and over pole-bridges to other towns. 

From 1755 to 1761, the following persons were added to the num- 
ber of settlers, viz, Thomas Brown, Jacob Gould, Charles Tuttle, 
Henry Hodgkins, William Hodgkins, Samuel Craig, Philip Goodridge, 
David Poor, Joseph Fuller, Samuel Reed, Samuel Darling, Silas 
Darling and Timothy Darling. Some of these became permanent 
residents. , 

From the Records, dated November 1, 1759, we learn that the 
Proprietors voted, " That the Surveyors already chosen, John Moffat, 



50 HISTORY OF WINCHENDO^". 

Jacob Gould and Richard Day, are hereby ordered to build a bridge 
in said township over Miller's River, on the county road to Royalshire, 
now Royalston, out of the money already granted by the Proprietors, 
according to their best skill and judgment." This bridge was beyond 
Waterville. In 1762, June 30, the Proprietors voted, " That sixty 
days highways' work shall be done in building a bridge over the river, 
by Mr. Pearson's mill place." This was about ten rods below where 
the bridge now stands, near Goodspeed & Wyman's establishment. 

Before coming to the organization of the town, there is one more 
extract to be made from the Proprietors' Book, which, on account of 
its importance, will be transcribed at length. It is as follows : 

"Sept. 22, 1761. Voted, That the Proprietors will build a meeting 
house in the township of Ipswich Canada. 

Voted, That the said meeting house shall be 35 feet wide, and 45 feet long, 
and the length of the posts to be 22 or 23 feet. 

Voted and chose Benjamin Goodridge, Abijah Smith and Philip Good- 
ridge, a committee to let out the meeting house. 

Voted, That the committee be empowered to see that the said meeting 
house be hewed, framed and raised, the outside boarded, shingled and clap- 
boarded, window sashes, and glass put up, door heads and doors be made, 
the lower floor be laid, and the frame be underpinned with convenient stones. 

Voted, That the said meeting house shall be completed as aforesaid by the 
last day of September, 1762. 

Voted, That the meetings be held in Ipswich Canada for the future." 

In pursuance of this object another meeting was held next year, as 
follows : 

" At a legal meeting of the Proprietors of Ipswich Canada, at the house 
of Mr. Richard Day, inn-holder at Ipswich Canada, June 30, 1762, 

Voted, and chose Messrs. Benjamin Goodridge, Richard Day and Barthol- 
omew Parsons, to be a committee to view and stake out a meeting house plot." 

The committee made the following report of their doings. 

" Laid out five acres of land for a meeting house, training field and bury- 
ing yard, on the Northwest corner of the lot No. 1, in the South division, 
beginning at the Northwest corner bound, running south 48 rods, on line of 
said lot, then easterly 16^- rods, then running northerly a parallel line with 
the West line 48 rods, and then to the place where we began. 

Benjamin Goodridge, 
Bartholomew Parsons, 
Richard Day." 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 51 

On the reception of this Report the meeting voted, " That the Pro- 
prietors will accept the land laid out by the committee, on lot No. 1, 
South division, for the use of the meeting-house, training field and 
burying yard — there being reference made on said lot for that pur- 
pose by the Propriety at their meeting on the 27th of Oct., A. D. 
1737 — notwithstanding a former vote passed by the Proprietors at 
their meeting held Nov. 1, 1759, to accept of the report of the com- 
mittee to set the meeting-house on lot No. 30, finding that place not 
accommodable. And the committee chosen to build said meeting- 
house, to raise the house on the plot where they judge most convenient." 

The war being over, people began to flock in more rapidly. The 
Rev. Daniel Stimpson, and his brothers, Jonathan and Ephraim Stimp- 
son, Abel Wilder, Daniel Goodridge, David Goodridge, Jeremiah 
Stuart, and Reuben Wyman, were added in 1762. Some of these, 
but not all of them, were from Ipswich. A meeting-house was built, 
and Rev. Mr. Stimpson was settled. This last event was on the 15th 
of December, 1762, The two preceding summers had been seasons 
of excessive heat and drought, cutting short the crops. Tradition 
says that the milk for the ordination puddings was brought in jugs 
from Leominster, the township having but four cows, and these at this 
wintry time, not affording a supply adequate to the occasion. 

Having brought the story of the early settlers down to the year 
1763, when measures were taken to organize a town by applying to 
the General Court for an act of incorporation, it is interesting to see 
how the formation of this little settlement was connected with general 
history. England and France contended for the mastery of North 
America, at intervals, for more than a century, and the history of the 
colonies, and almost every town in the colonies, was mixed up with the 
contentions of those transatlantic nations. The fortunes of Winchen- 
don were involved in the warsof those times. Its origin was the expe- 
dition of 1690. The colonies of Massachusetts, Connecticut and New 
York combined to capture the Gibraltar of America. The Ba t Col- 
ony fitted out a fleet, under the command of Sir William Phipps, 
while the other colonies sent an army. Their forces were to c< -ibine 
in an attack on Quebec, by land and water. The scheme failed, but 
not its consequences, one of which was the grant of territory c -npos- 
ing this township, and its final settlement. The people of Ipswich 



52 HISTORY OF WINCHEN&OIL 

sent its quota of men on this expedition, and more than forty years 
later, the survivors of these heroes, and the heirs of those who had 
died during the long interval, petitioned the General Court for a 
grant of land, as a partial compensation of their losses and sufferings. 
The petition was granted, and in due time, the grant was settled by 
the people of Ipswich. 

But there could be no settlement for many years, on account of the 
unsettled condition of the frontier. Queen Anne's wars, in her brief 
reign, and Lovewell's war in 1725, retarded settlements in places 
nearer the Atlantic towns, than this wild region. An effort was made 
to begina settlement, as already related, in 1735-42, but very little 
progress was made, when the war of 1744-48, sometimes called " King 
George's war," or the " old French and Indian war," put an end to 
all attempts at settlement. There was no meeting of the Proprietors 
from 1742 to 1751, when new measures were taken to bring in set- 
tlers. A few began to cut an opening in the forest in 1752, in which 
year eight or ten men gained a foothold. But the war of 1754-63, 
commonly called the " last French and Indian war," retarded the 
growth of the settlement. Some left the place, while others remained 
in garrison. From 1753 to 1762, only about twenty-two or three men 
had joined the company as owners or settlers. Several of these never 
gained a legal residence, and several of the remainder departed never 
to return. 

At length in 1759, Wolfe captured Quebec, and the conquest of 
North America was secured, though peace was not declared till 1763. 
Perhaps there were ten or twelve families here in 1761, when the 
fighting in the northern colonies was over ; from which time the set- 
tlers came in more rapidly. By 1764, when the town was incorpora- 
ted, twenty-one men, most of them probably at the head of families, 
had joined themselves to the earlier setters who still remained on the 
ground. The names of all the men who had effected a settlement here 
by the close of 1764 are here inserted in the order of the date of their 
settlement. It must not be forgotten however that some of the men 
herein named had already left the place, while others had probably 
never become settlers in the proper sense of the word, but were pro- 
prietors, and interested in the gathering of a township. Some were 
here a year or two before the coming of their families. The list with 
the dates must be taken as an approximation to the true state of 
the facts. 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 



53 



First Settlers. 



f Richard Day, a 1753, 

* t Thomas Wilder, " 

t * Abijah Smith " 

f Benjamin Goodridge, _ _ _ . — " 

f William Moffat, " 

William Holt, " 

* Thomas Berry, __ 1754, 

* Abraham Tilton, " 

* Thomas Manning, _ " 

*Thomas Jewett, _-_=.-* " 

Joshua Priest, " 

John Darling, " 

David Wilder, «. " 

Benoni Boynton, " 

Nathaniel Blodget, " 

Thomas Brown, 1755, 

fJohn Moffatt, " 

Jacob Gould,- " 

t* Nathaniel Burnam, . " 

♦•Charles Tuttle, 1756, 

t Henry Hodgkins, 1757, 

t Joseph Tuttle, " 

t Samuel Craig, — " 

t Abiathar Houghton, " 

fJohn Brown, " 

t Samuel Reed, " 

Gabriel Pouchey, 1758, 

Nathan Pouchey, " 

Barzillai Willard, " 

William Hodgkins, " 

John Gibson,-—! " 



f David Poor, 1758, 

Samuel Hunt, " 

Francis Goodhue, " 

Joseph Fuller, " 

Daniel Goodridge, " 

David Goodridge, " 

John Dunsmore, " 

William Brown, 1759, 

Mr. Harvey was here preaching, " 
Ebenezer Sherwin, or Sherry,- " 

Samuel Titus, 1761, 

Timothy Darling, " 

Rev. Daniel Sthnson, 1762> 

Jonathan Stimson, " 

Ephraim Stimson, " 

Abel Wilder, " 

Bartholomew Pearson, " 

Jeremiah Stuart, " 

Ephraim Boynton, " 

Reuben Wyman, " 

Thomas Sweetland, 1763, 

Daniel Bixby, — . " 

Theophilus Mansfield, 1764, 

Seth Oaks, " 

William Oaks, . " 

Silas Whitney, " 

Stephen Choate, " 

Nathaniel Bixby, " 

Amos Spring, " 

Jonathan Foster, *' 



SECTION 3. CONTRAST BETWEEN 1764 AND 1864. 

What mighty changes have been wrought during a single century ! 
Then the few inhabitants within the limits of this town, belonged to a 
colony of Great Britain. A.11 writs and warrants ran in the king's 
name. George III. had been on the throne less than four years. The 



* Those marked thus were owners of land, and engaged in che settlement, 
though some of them were not actual settlers. Some of them, after remain- 
ing for a time, left never to return. Besides there is an uncertainty about the 
exact year of the comiug of a few. Thirty or more of these men, the larger 
part of them having families, were here at the time of the first town meeting. 
There is considerable diversity in spelling the names. Oaks is written Oak ; 
Craig, Crag; Burnham, Burnam; Pouchey, Pushey : Stimson, Stimpson, &c. 



f These men were in the place on the 25th of October, 1757. 



54 HISTORY OF WTNCHENDOS. 

thirteen American colonies were sparsely peopled except near the coast. 
Behind them was the wilderness, filled with wild beasts and savage 
men. Behind these, on the north and west, French colonies, settlements 
and military posts stretched from the gulf of St. Lawrence, by Niag- 
ara, and Pittsburg, to New Orleans. Indians and Spaniards bounded 
the English settlements on the South. Our fathers were hemmed in 
by barbarous and civilized enemies on either side except the sea, 
across which the mother country reached her strong hand for the pur- 
pose of repression rather than of help. The colonists were poor. 
Their farms were mere openings in the forest. Their villages were 
separated by intervening woods, over which the meeting-houses could 
be seen, from hill-top to hill-top. Their houses were either log cabins, 
or small, rude, unpainted specimens of rustic architecture, with here 
and there a residence of higher pretensions. There were no manufac^ 
tures except those wrought by female fingers, on wheels and looms, by 
the domestic fireside. The British Parliament would not permit, if 
able to prevent, the making of even a " hob-nail" in the colonies, 
Our fathers were in a state of dependence, and it was the intention of 
England to keep them dependent as long as possible, and in the mean- 
time, make them tributary to her wealth and glory. 

In those days Winchendon was on the frontier. A few settlements 
were scattered here and there in the wilderness, between this spot 
and Canada. The greater portion of the land was in the possession of 
the wild beasts and the Indians. At every outbreak between France 
and England, the French and their savage allies petered down upon 
our outlying towns, laid tliem waste, and carried their people captive. 

Now the United States are a great and populous nation, rich with 
the accumulations of industry, and the returns of commerce. The 
wild beasts and the savages have fled before the advancing wave of 
population, and the military posts of the French, which once were gir- 
dled around us with the design of strangling, have been swept away, 
leaving no trace. We can travel westward thousands of miles, and 
see no territory but our own. Arts, learning, civilization, religion, all 
have their temples in our towns, villages and cities. We send great 
armies into the field, and we have one of the most powerful navies 
that ever floated. God has smiled on the wilderness, and it has 
become a garden. He has caused it to bud and blossom as the rose. 

This town has witnessed and participated in. the wonderful change- 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 55 

One hundred years ago it was one of the remote settlements of the 
colony of Massachusetts Bay. It was nearly all forest, swamp and 
rock. It was a week's distance from the capital, with which it had no 
regular communication. Here the Indians fished and hunted. The 
few earliest settlers were not safe, previous to 1763, unless they slept 
in fortified houses. But now towns and cities are located on every 
side, and extend far to the Canada line. That colony itself is now 
assuming the greatness and the incipient port of an empire. Win- 
chendon is within two and a half hours of a great, wealthy, populous 
and highly cultivated metropolis. The forests are turned into farm- 
lands ; the streams are vocal, not with their native music only, but 
with the busy hum of industry. Our workshops are full of busy arti- 
sans ; our schools are filled with happy children, and our homes are 
the abodes of peace and comfort. If the first settlers could have had 
a vision of the changes in the land, and in their own home, which 
were to come, they would have been filled with wonder, and their faith 
would have staggered at the results which are now accomplished facts. 
These remarks are not irrelevant, since there is a reason why 1764 
and 1864 are intimately connected in general history, and in the his- 
tory of this town. There is an historical unity between the two dates, 
as will be seen at once, when it is stated that the conclusion of the 
last French and Indian war, in 1763, made it possible for Winchen- 
don to gain population enough to be organized into a town. Many 
years had the Proprietors been laboring to bring the soil under culti- 
vation, and to erect a township ; but successive wars between England 
and France, in which the colonies and the Indians were always involved, 
rendered this place, and all the adjacent country insecure. A few per- 
sons were here previous to the outbreak of the last French war, and 
they remained through it. Some of the early settlers were probably 
engaged in that war of liberation, when the foundation of our indepen- 
dence was really laid. Some followed Wolfe into Quebec, by the cap- 
ture of which the French power was broken. The war lingered until 
1763, when peace was declared, Canada was transferred to England, 
and all the country between here and the Canada line, was rendered 
safe for settlement. The people began to move westward and north- 
ward ; there was an accession to the population of this place. Appli- 
cation was made for an act of incorporation, which was granted, and 
in the spring of 1764, Winchendon became a town. 



56 HISTORY OF WI3STCHENDON. 

The following advertisement, taken from the Massachusetts Gazette, 
properly comes in here as an illustration of the times. 

Notice is hereby given to the delinquent proprietors of Ipswich Canada (so 
called) in the county of Worcester, who at their legal meeting held on June 
the 30th, 1762, did vote and raise 12s on each original right to pay for preach- 
ing, and 12s for highways and other charges, and £l for the Kev. Mr. Daniel 
Stimpson's settlement and £1 for his first year's salary. And at another 
meeting of said proprietors held on, Nov. 17, 1763, did vote £1, 6s, to be 
raised on the three after divisions then drawn to pay the Committee for lay- 
ing out the same, and on each original right £1, 10s, towards finishing the 
meeting-house. 

THAT if said proprietors do not pay the said taxes and all arrears unto 
Abiathcr Houghton, treasurer for said proprietors, that so much of their lands 
will be exposed to sale at a public Vendue to the highest bidder, at the house 
of Capt. Joshua Hutchins inn-holder in Lunenburg, as will pay said taxes 
and arrears and all intervening charges, on Wednesday, the 18th day of Jan- 
uary next, at ten of the clock in the forenoon. And said sale to continue 
from time to time if need be till finished. 

r> • . , ( BENJ. GOODRIDGE, 

Proprietors \ rr, , v 

ay ... ■{ Thomas \vilder, 
Committee, j A u 

^Abiather Houghton. 

Sept. 9, 1763. 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 57 



CHAPTER III. — ORGANIZATION 
AND NAME. 



" For government, though high and low and lower", 
Put into parts, doth keep in one consent, 
Congruing in a full and natural close, 
Like music." Henry V. 

In the year 1763, the Proprietors petitioned the Great and General 
Court for an act of incorporation, with all town privileges. The pro- 
ceedings of the meeting which took measures for an act of incorpora- 
tion, were as follows : 

" At a legal Meeting at the bouse of Gabriel Pouchey in the township, 
June 22, 1763, 

Voted, That the Proprietors will join with the inhabitants in a petition to 
the General Court, that Ipswich Canada may be incorporated into a town." 

"June 23, Voted, That a tax of one penny per acre be laid on all the 
lands that are already laid out in Ipswich Canada, for the term of three years* 

Voted, That Benjamin Goodridge, Esq., and Daniel Bixby, be a committee 
to draft a petition in order to send to the Great and General Court, that Ips- 
wich Canada may be incorporated into a town, and the lands taxed according 
to the above vote." 

At the same time, the inhabitants of the township sent a petition to 
the authorities in Boston in the following terms. The document was 
recently found among the papers of Hon. Abel Wilder, which are in 
the possession of his grandson, Dea. Albert Brown. A portion of the 
sheet is torn off, and the blank cannot be filled. What remains is 
here given. 

"To His Excellency, Francis Bernard, Esq., Captain General and Gov- 
ernor in chief of His Majesty's Province of the Massachusetts Bay : To the 
Honorable, His Majesty's Council, and House of Representatives of the said 
Province, in General Court assembled, May, 1763. 

The Petition of the Inhabitants of the Tract of land called Ipswich Can- 
ada, with a number of non-resident proprietors — humbly sheWeth : — 



58 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 

That the said inhabitants are poor, and their number is so small by the non- 
settlement of many rights of land there, that they are unable to pay their vari- 
ous taxes, particularly their quota of the salary of their settled minister ; — 
That the inhabitants, excepting one or two, are under special obligation to 
pay all the charges of the whole rights to which the lots they inhabit respec- 
tively belong, till the said Tract of land shall be made a town or district ; — 
That the said inhabitants have already paid of such charges more than their 
lots are worth separate from the improvements made thereon by their labor ; 

— And that the best ex humbly conceive, to 

pre said tract of land, is 

actually subjected to a 

Whereupon your your Excellency and 

the said tract of land into a town (by the name of 

Epesberry,) and that all the lands of such town may be taxed 

for the payment of the said taxes, for the space of- -years ; or otherwise relieve 
your petitioners as in your wisdom you shall think fit ; and your petitioners 
shall ever pray, &c. 

The petitioners, it seems, desired to have the new town styled Epes- 
berry, in honor of two distinguished men of Ipswich, the lion. Simonds 
Epes, and the Hon. Thomas Berry. Why this part of the petition 
was denied, Ave have no means of ascertaining, but every inhabitant 
must be gratified that we are saved from the endless confusion in spel- 
ling which would have been the result of calling the town Epesberry. 
Besides the sound of Winchendon is far more euphonious. 

And thus the annals of the township, from the first grant as " Ips- 
wich Canada," until its incorporation as a regular town, have been 
recited. 

In compliance with the prayer of the above petition, the General 
Court passed an act on the 14th day of June, A. D. 1764, incorpora- 
ting the plantation of Ipswich Canada into a town to be called Win- 
chendon. The Act of incorporation is inserted here. 

" An x\ct for erecting the -Plantation called Ipswich Canada into a Town 
by the name of Winchendon. 

Whereas the inhabitants of the Plantation called Ipswich Canada in the 
County of Worcester, labor under many difficulties and inconveniences by 
means of their not being a Town : Therefore. 

Be it enacted by the Governor, Council and House of Representatives, 
That the Plantation commonly called and known by the name of Ipswich 
Canada, in the County of Worcester, bounded as follows, viz : South twelve 



HISTORY OF WTNCHENDON. 59 

degrees West, seven miles and two hundred rods on Dorchester Canada ; 
West eighteen* degrees South, two hundred and seventy rods on Westmin- 
ster ; North thirty-six degrees West, four miles and two hundred and twenty 
rods on Templeton line; North seventy-eight degrees West, six hundred rods 
on Templeton line ; North twelve degrees East, four miles and two hundred 
and sixty rods on Royalshire; South seventy-eight deg»es West — [rather, 
East twelve degrees South] — six miles on Royalshire line ; be and hereby is 
erected into a Town, by the name of Winehendon, and that the inhabitants 
thereof be, and hereby are invested with all the powers, privileges and immu- 
nities, which the inhabitants of the Towns within the Province do or may 
enjoy. 

And be it further enacted, That there be laid on the lands already laid 
out in said Town of Winehendon, a tax of one penny per acre for the term of 
three years. 

And be it further enacted, That Edward Ilartwell, Esq. be and hereby is 
empowered to issue his warrant, directed to some principal inhabitant in said 
Town, requiring him to warn the inhabitants of the said Town, qualified to 
vote in Town affairs, to meet at such time and place as shall be therein set 
forth, to choose all such officers as are or shall be required by law to manage 
the affairs of the said Town." 

This Act of Incorporation was signed by 

J. BERNARD, Governor. 

A few words may be appropriate in this place in regard to the ori- 
gin of the name. It is English in its origin, and it is not known that 
there is another place in the United States having the same name. 
Mr. Hyde, in his History of the Town, says : " It seems that Win- 
ehendon was so called after the name either of a manor or of a small 
town in England. An English historian states that ' In the month of 
December, 1706, Her Majesty, Queen Anne, conferred the following 
honors, viz, Thomas Lord Wharton was created Viscount Winehendon 
and Earl of Wharton.' " In reference to this subject, Dr. Whiton 
says, " The name, that of a small town or manor, in England formerly 
and perhaps now giving title to an English nobleman, Viscount Win- 
ehendon, was probajbly suggested by the then Gov. Bernard, in com- 
pliment to some friend or place to whom or which he was partial ; it 
being quite fashionable at that day, for the royal Governors to compli- 
ment favorite persons or places in England, by scattering their names 
over new settled places in the colonies." 



bO HISTORY OF WINCHENDON* 

The above suggestions may be true, but I am more inclined to the 
opinion that the origin of the name was as follows. Ipswich was set- 
tled by emigrants, some of whom, as I have somewhere read, were from 
Upper Winchinc/don, in Buckinghamshire ; and it is quite probable 
that the grantees of this place suggested the name of Winchendon for 
the purpose of perpetuating a name familiar to their fathers. 

During this and the preceding year, about ten new settlers came 
into the town, among whom we find the names of Bixby, Mansfield, 
Oaks, Whitney and Spring. There were now about thirty families, 
and probably two hundred souls in the town. The leading men were 
Richard Day and Abel Wilder. 

It is a matter of interest to know whence many of the early settlers, 
both before, and some years after the organization of the Town, came. 
Ipswich contributed the Days, Poors, Tuttles, Darlings and Polands* 
The Stimpsons and Whitneys came from Weston ; the Hales, Cur- 
tises, Slierwins, Perleys and Emerys from Boxford ; the Goodridges 
from Lunenburg ; the Wilders from Leominster ; the Paysons, and 
(probably) the Boyntons from Rowley ; the Murdocks and Hydes 
from Newton ; the Bemises and Balcoms from Sudbury ; the Tuckers 
from Milton ; the Rices and Greatons from Spencer ; the Raymonds 
from Holden ; the Browns, in part, from Lexington ; the Stoddards 
from Cohasset ; the Bradishes and Grouts from Leicester ; the Green- 
woods from Sherborn ; the McElwains and Bruces from Bolton ; the 
Evanses from Reading ; the Farrars from Sterling ; the Tolmans from 
Dorchester ; the Buttricks and Flints from Concord ; the Bixbys from 

— -, and the Waleses from Braintree. 

As a matter of curious information in relation to persons, and also 
in regard to the way of doing things, in old times, it is thought best to 
insert, in this place, the proceedings of the two first Town Meetings, 
in full, as they are found in the Records. The Warrant for the first 
meeting and the proceedings of the same, have been obligingly fur- 
nished by Webster Whitney, Esq., Town Clerk. 

" Worcester, ss. To Mr. Richard Day of the Town of Winchendon, in the 
County of Worcester, Yeoman, Greeting. 

Whereas I am ordered and impowered by the Great and General Court, 
to issue my Warrant, directed to some principal inhabitant of said Town, 
requiring him to warn the inhabitants of said Town, qualified to vote in Town 
affairs, to assemble in some suitable place in said Town, to choose all neces- 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 



61 



sary officers to manage the affairs of said Town, and also^to assess, and levy 
and collect the land tax : These are therefore, In his Majesty's Name, to 
require you, the said Richard Day, forthwith to warn the inhabitants of said 
Town of Winchendon, qualified as aforesaid, to assemble and meet at your 
dwelling-house in said Town, on Monday the fifth day of November nest, at 
one of the clock in the afternoon, then and there being assembled, to act on 
the several articles hereafter mentioned, viz : 

1st. To choose a Moderator for the government of said Meeting. 

2d. To choose Selectmen, and all other Town officers for the present year, 
as the law directs. 

3d. To ohoose a Collector to gather the land tax. 

And make due return of this Warrant and your doings thereon. Hereof 
fail not. Given under my hand and seal at Lunenburg, this sixteenth day 
of October, in the fourth year of his Majesty's Reign, A. D. 1764. 

Edward Hartwell, 

Jastiee of the. Peace." 

"In obedience to the within written Warrant, I have warned all the free- 
holders and other inhabitants of the town of Winchendon, to appear at the 
time and place within mentioned. 

Winchendon, November ye fifth, 1764. 

Richard Day.'* 

"At a meeting legally warned, November ye fifth, 1764, of the freehold- 
ers and other inhabitants of Winchendon, to assemble and meet at the house 
of Richard Day, then and there being assembled, proceeded in manner as 
follows, viz : 



Chose Richard Day, Moderator, to govern said meeting. 



Abel Wilder, Town Clark. 

Theos. Mansfield, ) 

Bennony Boynton, >- Selectmen. 

Ephraim Boynton, ) 

Richard Day, Constable. 

Nathaniel Bixby, Town Treasury. 

Daniel Good ridge, Collector of the 

Land Tax. 

Silas Whitnev, ~) r>i , w i 
-r> i w " Church Wardens 

Ruben Wiman, ) 

John Darling, Tythrngman. 

Daniel Bixby, Deer Reaf. 

Aaron Hodskins, Fence Viewer. 



William Oaks, 
Timothy Darling, 
Amos Spring, 
Abel Wilder, 



Surveyors 

of 
Highways. 



Jonathan Foster, Sealer of Weights 

and Measures. 
Silas Whitney, Surveyor of Boards 

and Shingles. 
Ruben Wiman, Field Driver. 
Nathaniel Bixby, Sealer of Leather. 
Stephen Choate, Stave Culler. 
Nathaniel Burnam, Fire Ward. 



These officers were chosen and sworn as the law directs. 



A true Record, per 



Abel Wilder, Town Cleric." 



62 



HISTORY OF •WINCHENBON. 



The record of the first annual meeting shows some changes in the 
disposition of the Various offices, and several new names appear. It 
will be noted also that by vote of the town all freeholders were allowed 
to vote. 

" At a meeting legally warned of the freeholders and other inhabitants of 
Winchendon, to assemble at the public meeting-house in said town on Mon- 
day the 11th day of March, 17G5, Then and there being assembled, proceeded 
in the following manner, viz : 

1st. Chose Theos. Mansfield, Moderator for the government of said 
meeting. 

2. Voted, That all freeholders shall be allowed to vote in said meeting. 

3. Proceeded to the choice of town officers and chose 



Abel Wilder, Town Clerk. 
Theos. Mansfield, ) 
Nathaniel Bixby, >• Selectmen. 
Benoni Boynton, ) 
Ephraim Boynton, Constable. 
Richard Day, Town Treasurer. 
Jonathan Foster, ) 

Theophilus Mansfield, ) 
Daniel Bixby, ) «,.., . 
Samuel Crage, j 



r Wardens. 



John Darling, 
Samuel Titus, 
Jonathan Stimson, 
William Oaks, 



Surveyors of 

Highways and 

Collectors of 

Highway Bates. 



Reubet^WVman, ) -r. t, 

m- ,i r/ r - Deer Reeves. 

limothy Darling, ) 

Abner Hale, ) t, T7 -. 

T ,i t? ' >ience Viewers. 

Jonathan roster, j 

Silas Whitnev, ) tt t> 

Samuel Titus, \ Ho S Rceves - 

Daniel Bixby, Sealer of Leather. 

Richard Day, Sealer of Weights and 

Measures: 
Joseph Stimson, Field Driver. 
Bartholomew Pearson, Surveyor of 

Boards and Shingles. 
Daniel Groodridge, Collector of the 

Land Tax. 



The officers for the present year were chosen and sworn as the law directs. 
Attest, Abel Wilder, Town Clerk." 

In making these citations, the different modes of spelling the same 
names and words, have been followed, as they are found in the Records. 
At these first meetings of the town, no Overseers of the Poor were 
chosen, and no provision was made for the poor. Probably there were 
no paupers in the town to be provided for by law. It is possible, though 
not certain, that the following proceedings of the town authorities were 
taken for the purpose of ridding the town of a family which might 
become a public burden. In those early days, when new settlers were 
eagerly welcomed, there must have been strong reasons to induce the 
Selectmen to take such action as is indicated in the following extract 
from the Records. 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 63 

" Worcester, ss. 

To Richard Day, Constable in Winchendon, Greeting. 

You are, in his Majesty's name, required forthwith to notify and warn 
Joseph Kneeland and Abigail his wife, Joseph Kneeland, Jr., his son, and 
Sarah Pierce Bigelow, and Elizabeth Bigelow, her daughter, who came last 
from Harvard, and Hannah their daughter, who was bound at Fitchburg, all 
to depart, and leave this town forthwith, or suffer the penaltys of the law in 
such cases maid and provided. 

Hereof fail not, but make due return of this Warrant with your doings 
thereon, to me as soon as may be. 

Given under my hand and seal, this fourth day of January, in the fifth 
year of his Majesty's Reign, A. D. 1765. 

By order of the Selectmen, 

Abel Wilder, Town Clerk." 

" Worcester, ss. 

Winchendon, January ye 7th, 1765. 
By virtue of this Warrant within written, I have warned the within 
named Kneeland and family forthwith to depart out of this town to the place 
from whence they last came. 

Richard Day, Constable of Winchendon. 
A true Record, per Abel Wilder, Town Clerk. 



64 HISTORY OF WINCIIENDON. 



CHAPTER IV. — CHARACTER OF 
THE PEOPLE. 



" View them near 
At home, where all their worth and pride is placed ; 
And there their hospitable fires bnrn clear, 

And there the lowliest farm-house hearth is graced 
With manly hearts, in piety sincere, 

Faithful in love, in honor stern and chaste, 

In friendship warm and true, in danger brave, 

Beloved in life, and sainted in the grave." 

Halleck. 

Having completed the annals of the town from the coming of the 
first explorers to the date of its organization, it may be well to pause 
here, in our chronology, and take a glance at the character of the in- 
habitants, their manners, and their social life. In this sketch, the 
author is indebted to the manuscripts of Dr. Whiton, and to tradi- 
tionary information derived from aged people, and children of the 
original settlers. 

The early settlers were an enterprising, industrious, temperate, har- 
dy and God-fearing people. Some of them were men of property, 
like Richard Day, while others were poor ; some were men of strong 
sense and capacity for public business, like Abel Wilder ; while others 
were plain farmers, and some, undoubtedly, were merely workmen, or 
" hands," in the employ of others. But as a class, they were capable 
of subduing the wilderness, introducing the arts of pastoral life, tak- 
ing care of their families, founding a town, and setting up a church. 
None but the enterprising and hardy would be disposed to find a home 
in such a wilderness ; none but the industrious could live and thrive 
here. That they kept the Sabbath, and worshiped the God of their 
fathers, is fully proved by the fact that they immediately made pro- 
vision for public worship, as if they felt it to be one of the necessities 
of society. The state of morals was good. The church was enlarged 
from time to time, and the ministry was held in great respect, and 
honorably supported. 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDOU. 65 

The people, in that early day, were strangers to many of the con- 
veniences and comforts of more recent daily life. " Their dwellings 
were without glass, and ill-fitted to exclude the cold. Had it not been 
for the roaring fires, kept up in winter in huge fire-places, fed contin- 
ually with great logs, which the owners were glad to get rid of, and 
thought they could not burn up fast enough, the inmates must have 
suffered severely. Noble pines that would now be valued at more 
than fifty dollars, were unsparingly burnt as nuisances. Those 
immense fire-places were large enough to allow, at one end, a path- 
way to the oven, and also a location for a wooden bench, on which sat, 
in cold winter evenings, a row of boys and girls eking out a perhaps 
scanty supper of bean porridge, by parching corn and roasting potatoes 
in the embers." 

" Their farming utensils" continues Dr. Whiton, " were clumsy ; 
indeed we should deem them intolerable. Homespun and coarse, yet 
durable was their clothing ; the men wore tow shirts, striped woolen 
frocks and leather aprons ; the best suit of coarse woolen was reserved 
for Sundays and special occasions, and lasted year after year, the 
wearers giving themselves very little concern about the mutations of 
fashion. Great coats and surtouts were rare ; boots very rare. Many 
a man would have rejoiced in the ownership of a pair, but felt unable 
to buy them. In winter they wore shoes, excluding the snow by 
woolen leggins, fastened over the mouth of the shoe by leather or tow 
strings. Neither men nor women wore shoes in summer at home ; on 
Sundays, the women, to save the wear, sometimes carried them in 
their hand, walking barefoot, or perhaps wearing an old pair till they 
came near the meeting-house, when they would stop a few moments 
and put on the meeting-shoes of thick, coarse leather." 

In confirmation of this statement, the author was told, by an old 
lady living in the south-western part of the town, whose golden wed- 
ding he attended a few years since, that she and her companions, when 
girls, were accustomed to carry their shoes in their hands, nearly three 
miles, and when near the meeting-house, they stopped at a certain 
place, and put the shoes on their feet. Customs differ. The ancient 
Hebrews were accustomed, when entering a sacred place, to put their 
shoes from off their feet, because the place on which they stood was 
holy ground. Our ancestors, on the contrary, were in the habit of 
covering their feet when drawing near to the house of God. 

5 



66 HISTORY OF WINCHEtflKOT,, 

" When engaged in their domestic work," continues Dr, Whiton, 
" which was nearly all the time on week days, they were clad in a 
short gown and petticoat, of coarse material, with a striped apron ; cal- 
icoes being thought an article too expensive and dressy for common 
wear. Candles being scarce and oil hardly known, the women carded 
and spun, and the men shaved shingles or read a little by the light of 
blazing pine-knots, or pitch-pine splints. The household furniture was 
rude and scanty ; the cupboard exhibited an array of wooden and pew- 
ter plates, and pewter spoons. Stools and blocks of wood oft served 
instead of chairs ; carpets, sofas and pianos were unheard of ; instead 
of them were the spinning wheel, both great and small, and the loom ; 
articles, if less ornamental, certainly more indispensable. Tea, coffee, 
and other foreign luxuries were scarce known, or at any rate, seldom 
used. Broths of various kinds — ■corn, barley, and the far-famed bean 
broth, milk when it could be had, brown bread, journey [or johnny J 
cakes, hasty-pudding, boiled and fried pork and potatoes, baked and 
boiled beans, were the great staples of living. 

Sometimes in winter families were conveyed to meeting through deep 
snows on an ox sled ; in summer the man, if he were the owner of a 
horse, rode to meeting with his wife seated on a pillion behind him, a 
child on a pillow before him, and possibly a smaller child in the moth- 
er's lap, encircled by one of her arms. 

That age of homespun, of hard work and simple fare, was however 
interspersed, on the part of the men, with trainings, musters, raisings, 
huskings, chopping-bees, wrestling-matches, piling-bees ; and in the 
female world, with quiltings, carding-bees, and apple-parings, if apples 
could be found. If the rude dwellings were not often animated with 
the faces of visitants, they were enlivened with the buzzing of wheels 
and the clatter of looms. It was deemed not improper, but respecta- 
ble for females to perform, at certain seasons of the year, many kinds 
of out-door work. They reaped, raked hay, pulled and spread flax ; 
in the absence of their husbands, housed and foddered the cattle, milked 
the cows, fed the swine, took care of the poultry, and when necessary, 
even caught and saddled the horse. In most instances they carded, 
spun, wove, colored, and made up the garments of the family. Surely 
our great grandmothers, many of whom were women of intelligence and 
high moral principle, we might add in relation to not a few, refine- 



HISTORY OP WINCHENDON. 67 

inent, not artificial but native, were far from eating the bread of idleness. 
Their descendants have ample reason to rise up and call them blessed.'" 
Education in those early days was not what it now is, in many 
respects. The children had very little instruction in school. Where 
schools were kept, they were open but a few weeks in the year. 
The branches of study were reading, spelling, writing and arithmetic. 
But nearly all the inhabitants were able to read, and knew enough of 
figures to transact business in their limited way. The children one 
hundred years ago were ignorant of the multiplicity of branches which 
are now cultivated in our public schools ; they had but few books, and 
scarcely any periodicals to read at home. A Boston Weekly brought 
them all their printed news. But they had the Bible, which is une- 
qualled by all other books together in its educating and elevating 
influence. They had Pilgrim's Progress, which is worth whole libra- 
ries of ordinary juvenile publications, and always fresh because reveal- 
ing new thought and hidden beauties to the advancing reader. They 
had Robinson Crusoe, which has aroused thousands of minds to activity, 
and set millions of youth forward in paths of enterprise and achieve- 
ment. They had other works, — religious, historical, literary, biograph- 
ical, — which trained them to think. And the events of the day in the 
mother country, as well as in the colonies, gradually made them famil- 
iar with the principles of government. Their own necessities were a 
constant spur to industry and invention. In a certain sense therefore 
the youth of this town, in its earliest years, had a good intellectual 
training. They grew up to be capable of managing their private 
affairs, training their own families, and performing all municipal and 
military duties. " 

In regard to morals and religion, no people in the world had more 
intelligent or sounder convictions. The morals of the people were 
good. The rights of property were respected. Bolts, bars and locks 
were not needed to guard articles of value. The women and children 
slept securely at night so long as wild beasts were excluded from their 
habitations. Female honor and purity kept the domestic hearth secure. 
If the men used New England or West India rum, as a beverage, 
drunkenness in those early days, was a rare vice. Though all were 
not members of the church, yet there was general harmony of religious 
views. Nearly all were of the old Puritan stock, and thus formed a 
homogeneous society. Thus the solid foundations of the town were laid. 



08 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 



CHAPTER V. — ANNALS OF THE 
TOWN; 1764 — 1800. 



" The lapsing years joined those beyond the flood, 
Each filled with loves, griefs, strifes and honest toil ; 
And thus as shadows o'er the checker'd plain, 
Children their fathers followed to the grave. 
The fruitage of their lives and deeds is ours." 

The Annalist. 



Events which occurred from year to year, but which cannot be 
grouped under specific heads, will here be given in chronological order, 
from the time of organization to the close of the century. 

1764. The first town meeting was held, on the fifth of November, 
at the house of Richard Day. 

1765. The first annual town meeting was held at the public meet- 
ing-house, on the eleventh of March. The line between Winchendon 
and Templeton was perambulated from the road to Templeton, to the 
N. E. corner of that town. At a town meeting on the fourth of Sep- 
tember, a grant of eight dollars was made to be laid out in schooling. 
Joseph Boynton, Joseph Stimson, Reuben Burnham and Simeon Burn- 
ham, were added to the population. The line between Winchendon 
and Ashburnham was perambulated. 

1766. Several families moved in this year. James Murdock came 
from Newton, and Abner Hale from Boxford. Levi Bixby, James 
Mansfield, Thomas Rugg, Richard Bailey and Isaac Stimson joined the 
settlers. The town declined to send a delegate to the General Court. 

1767. Abel Wilder was chosen deacon as coadjutor of Dea. Day. 
Seven families came in this year, viz, those of Dudley Perley, or Par- 
ley, John Cheney, William Porter, John N. Parmenter, Richard Pear- 
son, Thomas Gray, and Jonathan Bixby. The Rev. Mr. Stimpson was 
chosen in place of Thomas Mansfield, chosen at a former meeting, to 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 69 

carry a petition to the General Court in regard to taxation. The 
motive was economy doubtless, as the minister, being a public servant, 
charged his expenses and not his time. Besides, he could take the 
occasion to visit his friends at Weston. 

1768. The town's Minister, Rev. Daniel Stimpson, died of putrid 
fever, on the 20th of July. In September the town declined to send 
a delegate to a Provincial Convention, on the ground, as was said in 
their vote, that they were " a small people ;" but they pledged them- 
selves to the support of whatever measures might be agreed upon by 
the Convention. In the words of the records, " to promote manufac- 
turys and suppress superfluity s." The population had increased to 
about sixty families, and three hundred souls. The following new 
names belong to this year : Amos Merriam, Thornton Barret, Micah 
Bowker, Rev. Joseph Brown. The latter began to preach here near 
the close of the year. 

1769. Mr. Brown was settled as the minister of the town on the 
24th of May. The new comers were John Boynton, Thomas Sawyer, 
Peter Joslin, Abijah Stimson, Ebenezer Sherwin, Solomon Bigelow, 
Eli Smith, Phinehas Wheelock, William Joiner, John Joiner, Lemuel 
Sarjent. 

1770. Travel began to pass through this town from the west and 
northwest to Boston. Eleven new names appear among the inhabi- 
tants : Moses Hale, Jacob Hale, Amos Hale, brothers, Israel Green, 
Gershom Fay, Robert Bradish, John Chamberlain, John Day, Daniel 
Gould, Moses Foster, Jesse Fox. The Hales became numerous in the 
lapse of years, and many of their descendants still reside here. John 
Day was not a new comer, but a son of Dea. Richard Day, and prob- 
ably admitted as a freeman or voter this year. The town declined to 
send a delegate to the General Court. 

1771. We find niae new names under this date: viz, Samuel 
Noyes, James Noyes, Jonas Bradish, Gideon Fisher, Timothy Knee- 
iand [spelled Nealand elsewhere,] Stephen Boynton, John Porter, 
Joseph Fay, Edward Pay son. 

In 1764, and in 1766, the legislature authorized the town to tax the 
lands of delinquents' tax-payers in order to get their taxes. The tax 
was one penny per acre for three years. In 1771 an act was passed 
bj the Lieut. Governor, Council and House of Representatives, author- 
izing the sale of lands to pay the tax. The first sale was on ifoe 9th 



70 HISTORY OP WIXCHEXLO^. 

of January, 1771, at the house of Silas Whitney, inn-holder. There 
were fifteen sales. On the 30th there were twenty sales, or twenty 
" pieces" struck off. The next day one sale was made. 
On the 18th of February, eleven sales. 

" 19th " twenty-two sales. 

" 27th " eight sales. 

In all seventy-seven sales were made. The purchasers were Silas 

Whitney, William Houghton, Richard Day, Gideon Fisher, James 

Simonds, Paul Eager, Daniel Gould, Nathaniel Oaks, Amos Merriam, 

Abel Wilder, Thomas Sawyer, Joseph Wilder, Phinehas Wheelock, 

Ephraim Stimpson, John Cheney, Jeremiah Stuart, Joseph , 

David Whitcomb, Abel Hunt, Levi Carter, Seth Oaks, Jonathan 
Stimpson, John Boynton, Ely Smith ; in all twenty-four. This sale 
effected quite a change in the ownership of property. Several persons 
had removed from town. By vote, May 3d, the town declined to send 
a delegate to the General Court. 

The subject of selling the land of delinquent tax-payers was revived 
in town meeting on the 12th of April, it having been reported that 
the taxes of the late Col. Berry of Ipswich, were paid before the sale. 
" If the receipt can be produced, to see if the town -will come into some 
method to redeem the same." Tine proposal was negatived, and the 
presumption is that the receipt was not produced. 

1772. New immigrants continued to establish their domiciles in 
Winchendon. Here follow the names of seven men : John Homer, 
Matthew Knight, Zebulon Conant, Francis Bridge, Samuel Mason 7 
Ephraim Gale, Ephraim Sawyer, Antipas Dodge. Liberty was given 
for any person in the town to " build horse stables" on the Common. 
This provision was made for the comfort of the horses on the Sabbath, 
w 7 hile the owners and their wives and children sat shivering in the 
unwarmed sanctuary. 

John Homer had a lease of a quarter of an acre on the north end of 
the Common, west side of the road, for a house lot. On the 25th of 
May the town voted not to choose a representative. For seven or 
eight years next in order, the history of the town is involved in that of 
the country, and in this connexion may be hurriedly passed over. An 
occasional incident will be noted. 

1773. The first record of help to any poor person, is November 
8th of this year. It is- for "• hauling and chopping wood for Moffat's 



Blacksmith Shop. 




O *3 

WINCHENDON 



12 

CENTRE. 



B. 

-c. 

o 



Scale of 8 rods to an inch. 



The Common was at first 
48 rods long, ami 16J wide. 
In 1772, John Homer had a 
lease of 4 acre in N. W. cor- 
ner. Later, Col. Adams was 
allowed to put a blacksmith 
shop in the oppo>-ite corner. 
He also obtained a lease of a 
6trip 10 feet wide for his 
house. The single black line 
is the boundary of the Com- 
mon. The north dotted line 
shows the grant to Homer. 
The lease to Col. A. is be- 
tween the dotted lines. The 
Common is now about 43^ 
rods long. 

1. G. Pushey. 

2. J. Bradstreet. 

3. L. Stimson. 

4. Pound. 

5. Old School House. 

6. Blacksmith Shop of 
Mr. Burr. 

Jason Bemis. 
A. Godding, 
D. White, 
John Woodbury, 
f D. Henshaw, 
o 1 Rev. Mr. Morton, 
°-1 O.Walker, 
I.R. Vose, Jr. 
9. Rev. Mr. Stimson. 
'S. Whitney, 
M. Knight, 
Landlord Griggs, 
Jas. McElwain, 
10. •{ L. Stimson, 
i Wm. Whitney, 
I L. Wilder, 
I W. B. Whitney, 
L Charles J. Rice, 
f Block House, 
I M. Hale, 
,, J Ph. Whitney, 
• | Mr. Wheeler, 

Franklin Hayward, 
IB. Wilder, 
f Francis Bridge, 
I Joseph Sweetser 
12. ■{ B. Lord, 
I Holman, 
I.M. M. Reed. j " 

13. I. Cummings. 

14. C. Raymond, 
f R. Day, 

Rev. Joseph Brown, 
I B. Wilder, Sr., 
H. G. Newcomb, 
15.^ Luther Richardson, 

!Rev. M. Bullard, 
Rev. J. Storrs, 
Rev. B.E.Clarke, 
Josiah Dunn. 
{Rev. Jos. Brown, 
Rev. E. L. Clark, 
Albert Hale, 
.7. M. Stoddard. 
A. First, Meeting-House, 1762 
Second Meeting House. 
Third Meeting nouse. 
Day's I og Tavern. 
Wm. Holt. 



'If 



3SIST0UT OF WINCHENDON. 71 

wife," six shillings ; and later, for things delivered to Mrs. Moffat, 
amounting to over eleven shillings, including the pay for five pints of 
rum, Is, 3d. The same year Gershom Fay was taken from the town 
to Northborough. The town declined to send a delegate. 

A large number of settlers came in this year, viz, Levi Nichols, 
Miles Putnam, Amos Edmands, Joseph Wilder, Thomas Beals, Dan- 
iel Joslin, Ebcnczer Smith, James McElwain, David Brown, Nathan- 
iel Brown, Roger Bates, Jonathan Evans, Levi Carter, Ebenezer How, 
Samuel Steel, Josiah Baldwin. Levi Nichols was a man of enterprise 
and energy. His tavern was a great resort of travelers. This was on 
the spot occupied recently by Capt. Oliver Adams, and now owned by 
Mr. Cromwell Fisher. 

1774. Mareh 7, Voted to buy " a funeral cloth," or pall. May 
3, Voted not to send a representative. The new settlers were as fol- 
lows : Ezra Hyde, Sr., William Whitney, Joseph Broadstreet, Eben- 
ezer Sherwin, David Stoddard, Daniel Balcom, Samuel Spring, 
Nathan Green. 

The names heretofore given have been taken from Mr. Hyde's His- 
tory, and Dr. Whiton's manuscript, for the most part, but many have 
been inserted which are not found in their lists. For the future the 
Mames of settlers will not be given from year to year ; but in the next 
chapter will be found the names of all who engaged in the public service 
in the revolutionary war ; and in a subsequent chapter the names of 
-every married couple in the town in the year 1800. 

1775. The dysentery prevailed in the summer of this year, and 
in a considerable number of cases terminated fatally. In this or the 
next year, the first store for the sale of foreign goods was opened in the 
town, just south of Nichols' tavern. The death of Mr. Pushey, Pou- 
•chy, or Pouehey, one of the early settlers occurred this year. 

1776. May 27, Chose Mr. Robert Bradish representative to the 
G-eneral Court. The tradition is that he was a man of strong sense 
and an ardent patriot, but very rough and uncouth in his manners and 
appearance. Early is the session he was about to enter within the 
"bar of the House, when the officer stopped him. " I am a member of 
the House," said qui? stalwart delegate. " Indeed, "replied the official, 
" I beg pardon, I thought you were a member of the barn." If the 
tradition is truthful, the officer lacked the spirit as much as Mr. Brad- 
ish lacked the appearance of a gentleman. 



72 HISTORY OF WINCBENlXttt. 

1777. Israel Whiton, M. D., settled in town. He came from Con- 
necticut. He was, far a time, surgeon in the regiment of the brave 
and competent Col. Knowlton, -whom Washington held in high estima- 
tion. Dr. Whiton lived here to a good old age, and had great influ- 
ence in the town and in the church. Robert Bradish was re-elected. 

1778. January 23. The Articles of Confederation of the United 
Colonies were read in town meeting. March 2, Voted to receive the 
strip of land lying between the north line of Winchendon and the 
Province line, called " Royalston Legg," on to the town of Winchen- 
don, " upon the inhabitants of said Legg, and several principal inhab- 
itants in the north part of Winchendon promising never to be instru- 
mental in moving the meeting-house off of the meeting-house Common, 
so called." 

1779. Abel Wilder, Esq., was chosen delegate to the Convention 
called to frame a Constitution for the State. He was in the public 
councils nearly all the time until his decease in 1792. March 1, 
" Voted to give thirty pounds to any inhabitant of this town who shall 
kill a wolf before March, 1780." May 2, Voted" not to choose a rep- 
resentative." The winter of 1779-80 has always been known as the 
"•hard winter." The cold was so extreme that Long Island Sound 
was frozen over, and a man drove a horse and sleigh from Saybrook 
to Long Island. The snow was deep and drifted, and the cold weather 
continued for a long time. During six weeks there was no dripping 
from the eaves on the south side of the houses. 

1780. The weather continued intensely cold. In the words of Dr. 
Whiton : "at the beginning of 1780, and for weeks onward, most of 
the roads were impassable ; traveling, except on great roads, and even 
there, accomplished with the utmost difficulty, was suspended ; physi- 
cians walked to visit their patients on rackets ; fuel was drawn to the 
door on hand-sleds ; many families used boiled or pounded corn instead 
of meal, the mills being either frozen up or inaccessible. The family 
of Rev. Mr. Brown lived feus on com about three wrecks, till Dr. 
Whiton, who then boarded in the house, went to mill on rackets,, car- 
rying on his- back a peck of corn, and returned with meal, aSbrding to 
the family the pleasure of once more eating bread. Till late in April 
the fences were buried under the snow." 

October 11, " Granted £450' to Levi Bisby as a bounty for three wolves 
he and Beal have killed since last March." 



HISTORY OP WINCHENDON. 73 

44 Voted and chose a Committee to dispose of the common and undivided 
land belonging to the ministerial and school rights. Chose Dea. Hale, Capt. 
John Boynton, and Lieut. Samuel Prentice." 

" Voted, That if the Proprietors choose a Committee to dispose of their com- 
mon and undivided lands lying in this town, that the above Committee join 
with them and make sale of the common and undivided land belonging to the 
above-mentioned rights, or dispose of it otherways as the Committee see fit." 

" The Committee are directed to see that the above rights draw full share 
in all the common lands which was not drawd in second division lots." 

" That the Assessors be directed for the future to rate all the common and 
undivided lands lying in the town." 

May 18th was the memorable " dark day." The darkness was so 
dense by 11 o'clock, that fowls went to roost, and cattle came to the 
barns as if it were night. Before noon candles were necessary. In 
the evening the darkness was like that of Egypt. 

December 27, " Landlord Griggs" is mentioned in the Records. 
He was the second or third landlord on the Common. 

1781. Abel Wilder, Esq., was the first representative under the 
State Constitution. March 5. Chose a Committee of three to take 
up the petition of Gideon Fisher and others, inhabitants in the south- 
easterly part of this town, to be set off, and report to the town at the 
annual May Meeting. The Committee were Abel Wilder, Moses 
Hale, Israel Whiton." This led to the incorporation of Gardner. 
[See the end of this chapter.] 

March 22. " Voted that the petition bo taken out of the front galery so 
that the men may have the whole of the front galery." 

April 28. " Voted, That the money due to the widow Oaks be paid 
ninety to one." " Voted, That the women have one-third part of the front 
gallery in the meeting-house, and that there be a petition erected for tha t 
purpose." 

" Voted to see if the town is willino- to have the mode of singing without 
reading introduced on Sundays." Passed in the affirmative. 

4 

December 14. Warwick sent a letter about a new county. No 
action taken. 

1783. May 16. Persons who had moved into the town from other 



74 HISTORY OF WINCHENDOH. 

towns where they had paid their rates for hiring three years' men, 
asked to have their rates abated here. The town refused. 

1784. March 1, The town meeting was held in the school-house. 
March 8, Francis Bridge and Joseph Sweetzer were allowed to set up 
a store on Meeting-house Common. April 5, Jason Bemis had liberty 
to set a blacksmith's shop on the meeting-house Common. It was to 
be south of Mr. Burr's shop on the east line of the Common. 

May 26, The town voted in favor of having a new county, and 
Benjamin Brown, Dea. Moses Hale, and Capt. Wilder were chosen a 
Committee to consult with* Committees of other towns. This question 
came up frequently in subsequent years, and never came to anything. 
September 6, The Selectmen were directed to purchase a " funeral 
cloth." 

1785. A tract of 3680 acres was taken from the town, and joined 
with territory taken from adjoining towns, to form the town of Gard- 
der. The people of Winchendon concurred in the measure. William 
Whitney obtained a vote to have all his farm left in Winchendon. At 
one time he owned six 80 acre lots adjoining, besides land in other 
parts of the town. 

Voted one penny on the pound to the Constable, for collecting for 
the year 1783. 

March 7, In a freak the town chose Dr. Whiton hog-reeve, and 
Dr. Atherton fish-reeve. It was probably done by the Shays' men, 
who had a decided opponent in the former. 

May 16, Voted to commit a certain inhabitant of the town to gaol 
unless he paid his taxes. ^ 

1786. Abel Wilder was chosen to the Senate, and continued in 
the same office until his death. Dea. Hale succeeded him as repre- 
sentative. There was no vote in the town against Mr. Wilder. 

May 15, " Voted to build a new pound, and to build it with stone. 
Voted to set it on the northeast corner of the Common, twenty-five feet 
each way within the walls, six and one-half feet high, four feet broad 
at the bottom, and properly tapering to the top." 

1787. May 14, Abel Wilder was chosen representative, but hav- 
ing been chosen a Senator at the same time, the town chose Dea. 
Hale representative on the 30th of July. The town changed its mind 
about the pound, and voted to build it of wood, of white pine timber, 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 75 

eight feet high. Struck off for ten dollars to Mr. Levi Moor. The 
town refused to give the front gallery " to convene the singers." 

October 8. An article was in the warrant in relation to setting up 
grave-stones in memory of Rev. Daniel Stimpson. Negatived. 
December 3, Dea. Moses Hale was chosen delegate to the Conven- 
tion for ratifying the Constitution of the United States. He voted in 
the negative, with a large majority of the delegates from Worcester 
county. 

1788. May 12, Chose Samuel Crosby, Esq., to take care of the 
town's stock of ammunition. September 15, Voted, That two of the 
Assessors should go round and take a new invoice of the town. This 
" invoice" which would be a great curiosity now, was probably burned 
with all the Assessors' books and papers a few years since. 

December 18. A town meeting was held to choose a representa- 
tive to the first Congress under the Constitution of the United States ; 
and also to vote for presidential electors. For Congressmen the vote 
was as follows: "Hon. Jonathan Grout, Esq., 20; Hon. Artemas 
Ward, Esq., 16 ; Hon. Abel Wilder, Esq., 6 ; Hon. Timothy Paine, 
Esq., 1. This was the first movement towards sending Mr. Wilder to 
Congress. The following was the vote for electors : Hon. Amos Sin- 
gleary, Esq., 19 ; Hon. John Fessenden, Esq., 19 ; Hon. Samuel 
Baker, Esq., 4 ; Hon. Moses Gill, Esq., 14. The meeting then 
adjourned from the cold meeting-house to " Mr. Stimson's east room," 
where was a good fire, and other warming things. This " east room" 
was in the tavern which stood for many years on the spot where the 
house of Charles J. Rice, Esq., now stands. The business transacted 
shows that the town was getting earnest about collecting its taxes. 
u Voted, That the Treasurer call immediately upon the persons that 
owe upon notes and if not paid soon, the notes to be put in suit. 2dly, 
Voted, That the Treasurer be directed to receive lumber for these 
notes in favor of the town, at cash price. 3dly, Voted, That the 
Treasurer allow 20s. a thousand for good merchantable closing boatds ; 
6s. per bunch for*good merchantable shingles, 6-8 per thousand ; eight 
dollars a thousand for, good merchantable clapboards. Voted, That 
the lumber be delivered at the Treasurer's own dwelling-house. If 
not sold before the next March meeting, to be set up at the vendue." 
Dea. Hale was Treasurer, and his house was then on the southeast 
corner of the Common. 



76 HISTORY OF WINCIIENDON. 

1789. May 8, The town had thrown Jonathan Stirapson into jail 
for his taxes. An article in the warrant for the meeting held this day, 
was " to sec what method the town. will take to said Stimpson and his 
family." The town voted " to let out said Stimpson upon the best 
conditions for the town they can." 

1791. September 5. The lot of school land, No. 170, was sold 
to Dea. Levi Moor, and the money was loaned on land security. No- 
vember 7, the town voted to petition the General Court for liberty to 
convey by deed the ministerial and school lots belonging to the town. 
November 12, Abel Wilder was chosen to draft a petition respecting 
the sale of land, which draft was approved by the town. 

By the census this year it was found that there Avere one hundred 
and fifty houses, and nine hundred and fifty inhabitants in the town, 
showing that the increase of population had been quite rapid. The 
houses were scattered over the town, for as yet there were no villages 
except at the centre. 

1792. April 2d, " Voted, That the town will have their town meet- 
ings opened and proceed to business at the hour set in the warrant. 

September 5, Thaddeus Bowman and Thaddeus Bowman, Jr., left 
in debt to the town. The town, by execution, took land in Wethers- 
field or Cavendish, Vt., and now Mr. Amos Hey wood was chosen agent 
to make sale of said land. 

September 24, Samuel Prentice was chosen agent to prosecute those 
who had not fulfilled their obligations in respect to building the new 
meeting-house. The town refused to have a house occupied as a hos- 
pital by persons " inoculated for the small pox, in some remote part 
of the town, to be under the care of some skillful physician." In 
consequence, the Hon. Abel Wilder went to Jaffrey for treatment, 
where he died in the pest-house. 

The town had a law-suit before the Court of Common Pleas at Wor- 
cester, with Luther Stimson, respecting the support of Mrs. Thankful 
Stimson. Dea. Hale was agent of the town in conducting the case. 
He employed Esq. Paine and Esq. Strong as counsel. The decis- 
ion was in favor of the town. 

1793. Jeremiah Stuart's part of the tax for building a meeting- 
house was abated. He claimed to be a Quaker. June 8, Dea. Sam- 
uel Prentice was chosen Treasurer, in place of Lieut. John Burr, 
who died in the preceding month. 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 77 

1794. Here is an item which must have been the occasion of talk 
in every house in town, at the time. A meeting was called, on the 
6th of January, to take into serious consideration the request of Sally 
Lord. Voted, " That Miss Lord improve the house she now lives in, 
and also the red shop on the east side of the common, during the town's 
pleasure, and that the Selectmen assist her in conducting the matter 
according to their best discretion." She was the only living daughter 
of the first minister, and had been deserted by a selfish husband. 

April 7. The town refused to petition the General Court for a new 
eounty. Also, " voted against setting off a part of the southwest of 
the town, to make a new town. Also, voted to burn a number of old 
notes due to the town from several persons. Chose a Committee to pe- 
tition the General Court for liberty to sell ministerial and school lots." 

May 5, " Voted to petition the General Court to abate a fine im- 
posed on the town for not sending a representative." 

May 28, Voted and empowered Moses Hale to sell the land be- 
longing to the town in the State of Vermont, and give a deed for 
the same. 

September 1. The following action was probably taken in connec- 
tion with Washington's call for troops to suppress the " Whiskey Re- 
bellion" in Pennsylvania. That was suppressed in October. The 
town of Winchendon voted " to make up to the soldiers who have 
turned out as minute men in this town, forty shillings per month as 
wages, including what they receive from Congress, from the time they 
march, to the time they are dismissed from the camp ; and if they are 
called out of town before they march, to muster, or any other matter 
more than the rest of the militia, the town vote to give them three 
shillings per day for each day." 

November 3, " Voted to let out to the lowest bidder the making 
an accurate plan of the town, agreeable to a Resolve of the General 
Court, passed June 19 preceding." Chose a committee to let out the 
business. Nov. 21. It was let out to Major Paul Boynton for $39.67. 
" Voted and made choice of Moses Hale as a committee man, with 
Major Boynton, for the above-rrientioncd purpose of taking a plan of 
the town." The work was done by Dea. Hale, and the original by 
his pen is now in the office of the Secretary of State, in the State 
House at Boston. The effort to set off a portion from the southwest 



78 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 

of the town to form a new town was still pursued, but the town re- 
fused to take any action in favor of the measure. The design was to 
make New Boston a centre. 

1795. A post route was established through this town this year. 

A store was set up where the Village now stands. Its precise loca- 
tion is not known, probably where Mrs. Caswell lives. It was a small 
affair, suitable to the times. Thomas Wilder was the store-keeper. 

May 6, Voted on the question of the necessity and expediency of 
revising the Constitution of the State. Yeas, 2 ; nays, 61. Accept- 
ed the Plan of the town.. 

September 3, Voted to set up guide-po3ts, agreeably to an act of 
the General Court. 

The town generally set itself against all changes of town or coun- 
ty lines. In December of this year it voted against setting off Har- 
vard to Middlesex county. 

1796. May 5, Voted against dividing the county, and also against 
building a new Court House in Worcester. 

September 5, Voted not to pay for a singing-school. 

November 7, Voted to request the church- to shorten the intermis- 
sions on Sundays in the longest days, to an hour and a half, and in the 
shortest, to an hour. 

1797. May 2, Voted to give a bounty of three shillings for every 
old crow, and one shilling for every young crow killed in the town, by 
the inhabitants thereof, to continue for the time of six months from 
this day. A vote similar to this was passed at different times down 
to a recent period. 

1798. January 1, Chose Dea. Moses Hale, Amos Heywood and 
Dea. Samuel Prentice a committee to remonstrate to the General 
Court against granting any money for the building a Court House in 
the town of Worcester." 

March 5, " Voted that the three first Selectmen — there were five 
this year — be a Committee to give a deed of the leased lands when 
the money is paid in, and let out the same at six per cent., taking land 
security." By degrees the town was disposing of its lands. 

April 2, Voted on dividing the county ; yeas, 15 ; nays, 40. 

Voted to procure a carriage and harness to be used at funerals. 

Voted that the Seal of the town be the letters W. and N., and 
that the Selectmen procure said Seal. 



HISTORY OF WINCHENPOIT. 79 

May 7. The love of office was not so strong in the last century as 
it is at present, else ambitious men would have prevented any need of 
such action as is expressed by the following vote : " Voted to petition 
the General Court to abate the fine for neglecting to send a represen- 
tative last year." It is possible however that towns would sometimes 
neglect or decline to send representatives in these days, because they 
were obliged to pay the expense. 

1799. September 30. The following action proves that the Mili- 
tia system was considered important by those who had a lively recol- 
lection of revolutionary times. " Voted that the Selectmen equip such 
of the trainband as they think are unable to equip themselves." 



Appendix to Chapter V. 



The action of the town, embodied in the Report of its Committee, 
in reference to parting with a large section to the proposed town of 
Gardner, is so unselfish and honorable, that it is inserted here, as an 
appendix to^the Annals. The Report was presented, " accepted and 
adopted," on the 17th of May, 1781. It was as follows : 

" We, the subscribers, being appointed by the town of Winchendon, as a 
Committee to take into consideration the petition of Gideon Fisher and others, 
inhabitants of the southeasterly part of Winchendon, requesting to have a 
part of said town set off, and being annexed to parts of other towns, to form 
a distinct district, have attended to that business, and report as follows. Con- 
sidering the situation of the petitioners, we think it reasonable a part of said 
town should be set off when those towns concerned have determined the res- 
pective boundaries of the district to be so formed, as that the same may be 
properly accommodated ; and as circumstances now appear, we think a straight 
line beginning at the northeast corner of lot No. 15, to the southeast corner 
of lot No. 80, would best accommodate, if the parts taken from the other 
towns are correspondent thereto ; and in order that said boundaries may be 
ascertained, we think it expedient that those towns concerned should meet by 
their Committees, or otherwise, to consult on the same." 



80 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 



CHAPTER VI. — THE REVOLUTION. 



"The God of battles smil'd — Justice triumph'd; 
The Stars aud Stripes, Columbia's sacred Flag, 
Like eagles' piuious flutter'd to the breeze ; 
And the Red Lion, haughty Britain's emblem, 
Discomfitted, went howling back with rage, 
To lair amidst the white cliffs of Albion." 

Watson. 

section 1. — spirit op tiie people. 

Having recited the annals of the town to the close of the century, 
it is now necessary to return, and dwell more fully on certain impor- 
tant events in which local and national history are blended. The first 
of these was the Revolution, which most deeply affected every inhab- 
itant of the town. 

The first settlers Avere in sympathy with their countrymen in rela- 
tion to everything which pertained to the general welfare. They were 
full of the spirit of patrotism and of the love of independence. They 
responded to all the movements of Boston, led by Samuel Adams, in 
the years preceding the Declaration of Independence. The " Boston 
Massacre" occurred, and sent a thrill of indignation through all New 
England. 

In January, 1773, a letter was received by the Selectmen from the 
town of Boston, in reference to public affairs, and requesting the peo- 
ple of Winchendon to take action in relation thereto, and send the 
result to the Committee of correspondence in Boston. Abel Wilder 
and John Boynton, two of the Selectmen, in response to a request 
signed by ten freeholders, called a special town meeting, " to see if 
the town will take into consideration the distressing circumstances of 
the present affairs of the province ; and so far as concerns particular 
towns and individual persons, to act thereon by choosing Committees, 
or otherwise, as they shall see fit." The meeting was held on the 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 81 

fifteenth of February, the records of which are here copied, as they 
show the spirit of the people, two years before the clash of arms. 

" At a legal meeting of the freeholders and other inhabitants of Winchen- 
don, qualified by law to vote in town affairs, on the fifteenth day of Febru- 
ary, 1773, chose Moses Hale, Moderator for the government of said meeting. 
The meeting was then adjourned to 1, and again to 8 o'clock. 

" Voted, to take into consideration the distressing and dangerous circum- 
stances of our public affairs. 

Voted, to choose a committee consisting of five persons to prepare a draft 
to lay before the town, of such measures as may be thought proper for the 
town to come into, in order to defend their rights and liberties. Chose 
Messrs. Moses Hale, Levi Nichols, John Boynton, John Homer, and Dudley 
Perley, Committee for the purposes aforementioned. 

Voted, and consented to the proceedings of the town of Boston in their 
stating the rights of the Colonists, as they are set forth in a pamphlet sent by 
a Committee of Correspondence in Boston to the Selectmen of Winchenclon." 
Adjourned to the first day of March at 2 P. M., in the meeting-house. 

"At a legal meeting of the freeholders and others of Winchendon, upon 
adjournment from the fifteenth day of February last, the Committee appointed 
the fifteenth day of February last, by the town of Winchendon, legally assem- 
bled to consider the letter from the town of Boston, with their statement of 
rights of the Colonies, and the infringements made upon them, which was 
publicly read at the said meeting, beg leave to report, That from a full con- 
viction of the propriety and expediency of the measure, they do recommend 
to the inhabitants of this town to pass the following Resolves, namely : 

1. Resolved, that having taken into serious consideration the state of the 
rights of the Colonies, and of the Province in particular, as men, as christians, 
and as subjects, and a list of infringements and violation of rights, as speci- 
fied and set forth by the committee of the town of Boston, We are of opin- 
ion that the rights of this Province are well and truly stated in said list, as 
they are well supported and warranted by the laws of God, of nature, of the 
realm of Great Britain and the charter of this Province ; that a list of infrino-e- 
ments and violations of those rights and privileges inherent to the inhabitants 
of this Province are well stated, vindicated and supported by a great variety 
of uncontestable facts, whereby it appears to us as aforesaid, that the time is 
speedily hastening when we shall be reduced to the most abject slavery. 

2. Resolved, that having consulted our charter, we find that by the afore- 
said infringements and violations, our rights and liberties, thereby derived, 
are sapped to the very foundation. 

6 



82 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 

3. Resolved, that it is of the utmost importance the Colonics in general 
and the inhabitants of this Province in particular, stand firm as one man to 
support and maintain all their just rights and privileges. 

4. Resolved, that this town will, at all times, heartily join with our 
brethren of this Province, and with every true friend to liberty, in all lawful 
measures which may be proper, salutary and effectual for the redress of our 
grievances and the establishment of our charter rights, privileges and liberties. 

5. Resolved, that this town choose a committee to correspond with the 
Boston committee, and the committees of other towns, to receive and com- 
municate to the town all salutary measures that shall be proposed or offered 
by any other towns for removing the common grievances of this Province, • 
and to communicate the sentiments of this town to the correspondent com- 
mittee of the other towns of this Province. 

6. Resolved, that the united thanks of this town and of every true son of 
liberty and friend to the constitution of the Province, is due to the town of 
Boston for their early and indefatigable zeal in endeavoring to preserve the 
constitutional rights and liberties of this Province. 

7. Resolved, that the town of Boston be served with an attested copy of 
our proceedings. 

Moses Hale, 

Levi Nichols, Committee to consider 

John Boynton, y 
Joiin Homer, of Grievances. 

Dudley Pekley, J 
Winchendon, February 22, 1773. 

The above Resolves being publicly read, it was put to vote. Accepted by 
unanimous vote. 

Voted, and chose Messrs. Moses Hale, Levi Nichols, John Boynton, John 
Homer, and Dudley Perley, a Committee of Correspondence. 

Voted, that the Town Clerk be directed to record the foregoing Resolves 
in the town book of records, and to return an attested copy of the same to 
the Committee of Correspondence above chosen. 

Moses Hale, Moderator. 
A true copy, Attest, 

Abel Wildek, Town Clerk." 

The intention of the British government became plainer from year 
to year, and- the determination of the Colonists rose in opposition. 
They would not surrender their birthright without* a struggle. The 
people of Winchendon were in full accord with their countrymen in 
taking proper measures of resistance to tyramiy. The Selectmen 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 83 

issued a warrant for a town meeting to be held on the fourth of August. 
1774. This was the language of one of the articles. " Whereas the 
committee of Correspondence of the town of Winchendon, have 
received a letter from the committee of Correspondence of Worcester, 
— requesting the town of Winchendon to appoint one or more of the 
committee of the town of Winchendon, to meet the other committees 
of the several towns in this county, at Worcester on the ninth of 
August next, to consult together, and come into some regular method 
to oppose the late Acts of Parliament ; the intent of which is to bereave 
us of our rights and privileges ;" and the meeting was to " see if the 
town will choose one or more of the committee for the abovesaid pur- 
pose." The record of the meeting was as follows : 

"At a meeting of the town of Winchendon, August 4, 1774, Chose Mr. 
Eli Smith, Moderator for the government of said meeting. Chose Mr. Amos 
Merriam to join the Committee of Correspondence in the town in the room of 
John Homer, deceased. 

Chose Mr. Moses Hale to meet the committee that may be aj)pointed by 
the several towns in this county, at the widow Mary Stearns, at Worcester, 
on the 9th day of August instant, at 10 of the clock in the morning." 
Adjourned to the 25th of August. Then met and acted as follows : 

" Voted, that Dea. Moses Hale go to Worcester upon the adjournment of 
the County Convention — That is, the adjourned meeting of the Convention. 

Voted to accept of the following Resolves, namely : 

1. Resolved, that we acknowledge ourselves true and liege subjects to 
his Majesty, king George III., and that we will, to the utmost of our power, 
defend his crown and dignity. 

2. Resolved, that the charter of this Province is the basis of allegiance 
to his Majesty, the sacred obligation he is under to protect us, his American 
subjects, and that all Acts of the British Parliament which tend to vacate 
our charter without our consent, have a tendency to destroy our allegiance to 
the king, and also the obligation he is under to protect us, his most loyal sub- 
jects, which consequently reduces us to a state of nature. 

3. Resolved, that those unconstitutional Acts lately passed in the British 
Parliament, wherein they claim a right to tax the Americans without their 
consent, and to alter our free Constitutions at their pleasure, has a direct ten- 
dency to break off thfe affections of his Majesty's true and loyal subjects in 
America, from the king, and therefore most certainly weaken the British 
nation, and will, if persisted in, unavoidably endanger, if not actually be a 
means of the destruction of the king, and the whole British realm. 



84 HISTORY OF WINCHEND0N. 

4. Resolved, that we will, to the utmost of our power, oppose all such 
unconstitutional acts, which in our opinion, are directly against the dignity 
of the king and the constitution of this Province, and are ready to risk our 
lives and fortunes in defence of our rightful sovereign, and to maintain our 
free constitution, in order to save ourselves and posterity from ruin and 
slavery, which seems, like a torrent, rushing in upon us. 

5. Resolved, that we will do all that lies in our power to maintain peace 
and good order amongst us according to the laws of this Province ; and that 
we will break off all dealings, as far as possible, with all officers who hold 
their commissions under unconstitutional laws. 

6. Resolved, that those men who are appointed Counsellors by a manda- 
mus from England, directly contrary to the charter of this Province, and have 
taken the oaths recpiired to serve in that office, are destitute of any regard to 
the good of their country, and ought to be treated as open enemies to the 
once free constitution of this Province." 

SECTION 2. THE FIRST NOTES OF DEFIANCE. 

The above resolutions truly indicate the sentiments of the inhabit- 
ants of this town, though they may have been drafted, possibly, in 
Boston. It was not uncommon for the people of one place to adopt 
the resolves of another, inasmuch as the crisis produced almost entire 
unanimity among the people. An adjourned meeting was held on the 
15th of September, when it was 

" Voted to send a person to the Provincial Congress to meet at Concord 
the second Tuesday of October next. 

Chose Mr. Moses Hale to go to Concord. 

Voted, that every person from the age of sixteen to sixty years old, appear 
at the meeting-house in Winchendon, on Tuesday, the 20th day of this instant 
September, at one of the clock in the afternoon. 

Voted, that the town will indemnify Mr. Jeremiah Stuart, Constable, in 
his not returning a list of the persons qualified to serve as Jurors agreeable to 
a late Act of Parliament ; and he is hereby directed never to make such 
returns." 

The last resolve was really a defiance to the government of the 
mother country, and evinces the purpose of the people to maintain 
their rights at all hazards. New events were in the same direction 
from month to month. In September, Gen. Gage, the royal Gov- 
ernor, issued a proclamation convoking the General Court to meet in 



HISTORY OF WTNCHENDON. 85 

Salem, in October. Though the Governor countermanded the meet- 
ing, the representatives, nevertheless, assembled at the appointed time 
and place, resolved themselves into a Provincial Congress, adjourned 
to Concord, and there adopted a series of measures adapted to the 
times. To this adjourned meeting, the town of Winchendon sent a 
representative in the person of Dea. Hale, as appears by the vote 
above recited. Though the Provincial Congress was held in defiance 
of the constituted authority, yet the sanction of the people gave all 
their recommendations the force of law. 

This year, 1774, is noted in American annals for the destruction of 
tea in Boston harbor. Between three and four hundred chests of tea 
were thrown into the water, by a party of men disguised as Indians, 
followed and assisted by a crowd in their usual dress. The British 
government, in their alarm at the excitement which their measures had 
aroused in the Colonies, and with the hope of conciliation, had repealed 
the duties on articles imported, with the exception of three pence per 
pound on tea, retained for the purpose of asserting their right to tax 
the Colonies. This claim was resisted, on principle, and one of the 
rough modes of resistance was taken by the pretended Indians. A 
venerable lady, now deceased, whose husband was one of the band, 
used to narrate the event, and tell how frightened she was when her 
door was opened that night, by a fierce looking Indian, and how she 
was calmed by a well-known voice, saying : " Don't be frightened, 
Elizabeth." According to her account, the number of men in the 
Indian costume was not large, but every man in the crowd afterwards 
claimed to be one of the tea-party, and by implication, at least, one of 
the Indians. 

It is said, that though the ladies joined in the league which pro- 
scribed the use of tea, yet sometimes their love of the beverage would 
get the upper-hand of their patriotism. Under the name of sage tea, or 
mint tea, or some other herb, the genuine article was sipped by stealth, 
in the cellar or the garret. And there are stories that even parties 
of ladies would contrive, by setting a guard, to have a social tea-drink- 
ing ; nor need tljere be any doubt, that under such inspiration, their 
tongues ran as glibly and patriotically on the engrossing topics of 
the day. 

The next act of the town taken in unison with the other towns of the 



SQ HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 

Province, was another defiance of the royal government. Harrison 
Gray, Esq., was the Treasurer under the government of the crown, 
and the taxes could not be paid lawfully except into his hands. The 
Congress, however, recommended the several towns to pay their annual 
taxes into the hands of Henry Gardner, Esq., of Stow, as Treasurer 
for the Province. In reference to this matter the town passed the fol- 
lowing vote, at a town meeting held on the 10th of January, 1775. 

" Voted, that the Province taxes granted and levied upon the town of 
Winchendon, for the years 1772, 1773, and 1774, committed and soon to 
be committed to Thomas Sawyer and Jeremiah Stuart, Constables of Win- 
chendon, be paid to Henry Gardner, Esq., of Stow, as soon as conveniently 
may be ; and the Constables are hereby ordered to pay the above-said money 
as above voted ; and the town will hereby indemnify the above-said Thomas 
Sawyer and Jeremiah Stuart in so doing, upon their producing receipts from 
the above-mentioned Henry Gardner, Esq. 

Voted and chose Levi Nichols, Thomas Sawyer, Moses Hale, Abel Wil- 
der, John Boynton, Eli Smith and David Poor, a committee to see that the 
Association of the Continental Congress be put in execution. 

Voted, that the town will assist the above committee in carrying the 
above-mentioned Association into execution, provided they proceed agreeably 
to the directions of the Provincial Congress." 

Here was an actual though not formal declaration of separation 
from the mother country. The authority of the royal governor was 
set aside, and the Provincial Congress was the recognized authority. 
The action of the Congress which the above committee were chosen to 
enforce, proscribed the importation and use of articles from Great 
Britain. 

SECTION 3. LEXINGTON AND BUNKER HILL. 

There were at this time, according to Dr. Whiton, about ninety 
families in the place, and near five hundred and fifty people, so that 
they were able to muster quite a company of militia. And if their 
guns were old fashioned, and mayhap rusty, they were wielded by 
strong and sturdy hands. When the news came of the battle of Lex- 
ington, in April, the alarm was spread in Winchendon by the firing 
of guns and the beating of drums. The people sprang to arms, and 
under the lead of Dea. Moses Hale, without a commission, a party of 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 87 

them started for the scene of action. Learning, however, while on 
their way, that there were men enough in the field, near Boston, they 
returned home. They attended to spring work on their farms, and 
put themselves in preparation for the contest which was now opening 
before them. In the meantime, Capt. Abel Wilder was commissioned 
as captain. The time for preparation was brief, for letters dated May 
6 and May 10, prove that Capt. Wilder was already in the camp at 
Cambridge. Sometime— the exact date has not been discovered, — 
prior to the battle of Bunker Hill, which was fought on the 17th of 
June, Capt. Wilder marched to Cambridge with his company. This 
company, says Dr. Whiton, " was composed of men from Winchen- 
don, Royalston and Templeton." Among the soldiers from this town 
were Benjamin Rice, Amos Hale, David Stoddard, Samuel Bradish, 
John Day, Nathan Day, (both sons of Dea. Richard Day,) Timothy 
Darling, Samuel Brown, and Elisha Brown. 

It is supposed that some twelve or fifteen of the company were per- 
sonally engaged in the battle ; the remainder being on guard, or oth- 
erwise employed. " The Winchendon men engaged in the thick of 
the fight, were Wilder, Bradish, Stoddard, Rice, and Hale," and per- 
haps others. Stoddard, though he received no injury, was covered 
with dust thrown up by a canon ball which struck the earth near his 
feet. Bradish was severely, and for a time it was supposed, fatally 
wounded, " by a ball accidentally discharged by a comrade, which 
entered the back of his neck, and came out at one of his eyes. The 
eye perished, but he himself surprisingly recovered. Apparently des- 
perate as was the wound, he walked oif from the battle-field to a place 
•of refuge. When Capt. Wilder came to him after the retreat, he 
found the wound undressed, and demanding of the surgeon the reason 
for the neglect, was told it was of no use, as the man must certainly 
die ; but he insisted that the wound should be dressed, which was ac- 
cordingly done." A letter* written by Capt. Wilder to his wife Anna, 
the day after the battle, finds its place here. The ancient spelling 
is retained. 

" Charleston Encampment, ) 
, June ye 18th, 1775. J" 

Dear Wife : These Lines are to inform you that I am pretty well, though 
1 have had a poorly two or three days. Friday night I was quite poorly. 

* Kindly furnished, with many others, "by his grandson, Dea. Albert Brown. 



88 HISTORY OF WINCHENDOIT. 

Doctor Wait said I must have a Vomit ; but I told him as there was a battle 
expected Satterday, I would not take it, lest I should be charged of taking 
it on purpose. But I took some tincture, which answered a good purpose. 
And according as was expected, a very hot Battle insued Satterday after 
noon. Our people had built a fort on a hill in the town of Charleston, 
and the Regulars landed upwards of two thousand men on said hill ; and our 
Regiment on the hill ; and they fired upward from four or five Ships, the 
north battery, and two or three field pieces , but blessed be God, there was 
not many killed by them. But presently they advanced up near to us, and 
I fired nineteen times, and had fair chances, and then they was too hard for 
us, and we retreated. The bals flew very thick, but through the Divine 
protection, my company was all preserved but one,. Phinehas Nevers,* who 
is missing, and Samuel Bradish, badly wounded. But men are in good 
spirit. 

I remain your true and loving husband, 

Abel Wilder.'' 

The spirit of the man is revealed in every line. He relied upon 
God ; ho loved his wife ; he was careful of his men ; he was in the " hot 
battle," where the " bals flow very thick," and " fired nineteen times," 
though he was a captain, and had " fair chances," which means prob- 
ably that he took aim at good marks. He had a long, slender gun, 
and fired it till it " was so stopped up " that he could not fire it any- 
longer. Other officers of the company were Lieut. Jonas Allen, of 
Royalston, and Ensign Isaac Nichols, of Royalston. Benjamin Rice 
was second Sergeant in this Regiment, commanded by Col. DooMttle. 

One of the company died while in camp. This was young Nathan 
Day, of this town, the son of Dea. Bay, whose untimely fate was 
doubtless mourned by the inhabitants generally, as one of the first 
victims of the war, though be fell by disease rather than by the vio- 
lence of the enemy. The following inventory of the few things belong- 
ing to the young soldier, while in service, is not without interest, after 
the lapse of almost a century. 

" Camp ox Winter Hill, Sept. ye 1st, 1775. 
Then reo'cl of Capt. Abel Wilder, the several things hereafter mentioned,, 
being all the things my brother Nathan was possessed of in the army when 
he died. 



•Nevers was wounded, and taken prisoner to Boston, where he died!. 



HISTOHY OF WINCHENDON. 89 

One Great Coat, Two pair of Trowses, One Shirt, Two p'r of Stockens, 
One Coat and One Waistcoat, One Silk Handkerchief, One Hat, One p'r 
of Old Shoes, One Gun and Bagonet, One Cartridge Box, One Shirt. 

John Day." 

The following w y as found among the papers of Mr. Wilder, without 
a date, but it probably belongs to this period ; and if so, gives us the 
names of the " Minute Men," who were ready for instant service, 
They are all Winchendon names. 

" Order for Wages due on ye Minute Roll. 



Lt. John Boynton, 
Lt. Dudley Perley, 
Serg't. Amos Merriam, 
John N. Parson, Jr., 
Daniel Goodridge, 
Corp'l Abijah Stimpson, 
Koger Bates, 
David Goodridge, 
Elisha Brown, 
Samuel Brown, 
Samuel Bradish, 
Thadeus Bowman, 
Stephen Boynton, 



Zebulon Conant, 

John Day, 

Nathan Day, 

John Darling, 

Jacob Hale, 

Benj. Kimball, 

John Porter, 

Eben'r Sherwin, (drummer) 

Eph'm Sawyer, 

Eph'm Stimpson, 

Bill Hancock, 

Joseph Wilder." 



The following extract from a letter written by Capt. Wilder soon 
after he joined the army, gives us a vivid glimpse of the condition of 
the people of Boston, when leaving their homes in the possession of 
British troops. 

" The people are coming out of Boston daily. I was at Charleston Ferry 
Monday, to see a load come over. They seemed to be glad that they had 
got out, but looked back sober to think they had left all their substance be- 
hind them." 

There is occasional mention in his letters of visits from Winchendon 
friends, as " Mr. Mansfield and Sybil," and " Mr. Biglow," who 
" lodged in the tents two nights," and became " so beat out that he 
was obliged to go to the Hospital." Under date of October 7, he 
writes from Camp on Winter Hill, giving the following touching inci- 
dent. " As for goiwg into Boston, it is but a fancy. Last week on 
Friday, two of our floating batteries went down so nigh that they shot 
several balls through the houses, and it is said shot a woman through, 
with a child in her arms." 



90 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 

The following letter is so characteristic of the writer, and so de- 
scriptive of the times, that its space will not be grudged by any intel- 
ligent reader. No alterations have been made but such corrections 
as are necessary in preparing ancient letters — even those of Wash- 
ington — for the press. 

" Prospect Hill, Charleston, > 
June 29th, 1775. j 

Dear Wife : I received a letter from you yesterday, which informed me 
that the family was well, and you as well as you could expect, which gives 
me satisfaction. I hope you will be patient under common infirmities, and 
even if God is pleased to lay greater upon you than is common under your 
present circumstances. I shall not forget you, neither at the throne of grace, 
nor in common meditations, though I would not be understood that I am 
uneasy, for since it is the will of God that I should be here, I am entirely 
content to serve him in this way. I had almost forgot to tell you that I am 
well. I am as well as usual, but Abel is not well ; he took physic last 
night, and is better to-day. As to the judgments of heaven, I am glad that 
you take a suitable notice of them, and wish every one might. But alas, 
there are some here that appear neither to fear God nor regard man ; though 
blessed be Gocl, there are not many such. We have been without a chap- 
lain ever since we came down here, until about a week, but now we have 
one, Mr. Emory, who preached last Sabbath, and prays night and morning. 
And Col. Doolittle, who I was afraid was heedless, takes good care to have 
men attend, and attends himself with constancy and steadiness, which gives 
me pleasure. * * * * These from your true and loving husband, 

Abel Wilder." 

In a letter written early in November, he alluded to the fears of 
his wife lest he should remain in the army till spring, and expresses 
his own fear lest for some cause, not specified, he should be dismissed 
before his time was up. But on the 20th of the month, he writes from 
Winter Hill that " the officers of the army have their wages raised. A 
captain has twenty-six dollars per month, which is about enough more 
than I have to hire a man at home, and if are a mind to have me 
stay on these conditions, you must send me word." 

This letter properly introduces the paper which follows, headed : 
" Those names that are determined not to tarry longer than the last 
of December, 1775." 

As this list contains names not found in the roll of "minute men," 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 



91 



it is proper to insert them in this place. It is probable also that some 
of the names in this list, and that which follows, belonged to men from 
Royalston and Templeton. As the paper is torn, the surnames of sev- 
eral cannot be given. 



Serg't. Seth Oaks, 

" Benjamin Rice, 

" Daniel Joslin, 

" William Dike, 
*Corporal William Clements, 

" Elisha Brown, 

" Solomon Biglow, 
Henry Poor, 
*Peter Woodbury, 
David Stoddard, 
Michael Coffin, 
fBezalcel Barton, 

Then comes a list of " those names that arc enlisted for the year 
ensuing," being members of " Capt. Abel Wilder's Company." The 
names, as well as they can be deciphered, are as follows : 



*Eliphalet Richardson, 
fEbenezer Goodale, 
f Joshua Goodnow, 
Amos Hale, 
Moses Hale, 
*John Norton, 

Calvin Ea , 

Samuel , 

Ephraim , 

Seth W. , 

Joseph — , 

Ebenezer . 



Sg't Isaac Nichols, 
f Capt. Nathan Wheeler, 
Robert Steel, (drummer) 
Ahimaa Sherwin, 
Joseph Goodale, 
*Abijah Richardson, 
Samuel Norton, 

The paper is endorsed, " Capt. Abel Wilder's Return." 



George Moseley, 
Benjamin Bolland, 
Josiah Green, 
Michael Coffin, 
John Corneall, 
Barnabas Garrison. 



SECTION 4. DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. 

In 1776 several citizens of the town engaged in the struggle. 
The March meeting was called as usual, in the name of His Majesty. 
The Committee of Correspondence for the year were chosen, as fol- 
lows : Abel Wilder, Moses Hale, Miles Putnam, Thos. Kimball, Francis 
Bridge. On the 27th of May the town voted in favor of the plan that 
the Council and House of Representatives should form a system of laws. 
So far, though the town had taken steps incompatible with true allegi- 
ance to the king, yet 'His Majesty's authority had not been openly 
repudiated and defied. At length the time had come to throw off all 



From Royalston. 



f Unknown. 



92 HISTORY OF WINCHENLON. 

pretence of submission, and to assume the position of independence. 
And what was a most happy coincidence, the town of Winchendor 
declared for independence on the very day when the Declaration oi 
Independence was adopted by the Continental Congress. 

A meeting was called by the Selectmen, " in the name of the gov- 
ernment and people of the Colony of the Massachusetts Bay," to 
assemble on the fourth day of July, 1776, and that memorable meet- 
ing took the following action : 

" At a legal meeting of the free-holders and other inhabitants of Winchen 
don, qualified by law to vote in the choice of a Representative, on the 4tl: 
day of July, 1776, 

Chose Thomas Sawyer, moderator for the government of said meeting. 

Whereas, this town has been called upon by the Honorable House oi 
Representatives of this Colony, to signify their minds in regard of American 
independency ; being duly sensible of the cruel and oppressive measures 
which are pursued by the King and Parliament of Great Britain in order tc 
enslave the Colonics, and consequently the difficulty that will attend our be- 
ing ever again united with Great Britain, therefore, 

Unanimously Resolved, That if the Honorable Continental Congress 
should think best for the safety of these Colonies to declare them independ- 
ent of the Kingdom of Great Britain, that we will with our lives and for- 
tunes, support them in the measure." 

This resolution was in response to the General Court, which body 
had assured Congress of the support of the people of this Colony. 
The question had been sent out for each town to act upon, individu- 
ally, and the people of Winchendon were ready to peril lives and 
fortunes in maintaining the cause of freedom and independence. 

At the regular town meeting held on the third of March, 1777, 
the Declaration of Independence was read by order of the General 
Court, and was put upon record in the Town's Record Book, " as a 
perpetual memorial thereof." 

At a meeting held on the 8th of the preceding January, an account 
to the Selectmen for numbering the people was presented. 

SECTION 5. ENLISTMENTS. 

On the 13th of March it was voted " to grant some money to encour- 
age the enlisting of our quota of Continental soldiers." Then voted 
" to give <£20 by way of hire to each man of a sufficient number of 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDOIS". 93 

men to complete the quota of men levied on this town for the Conti- 
nental army, provided they will not engage upon the encouragement 
given by the Continent and State." Then chose a "committee of 
eleven persons to estimate services done in the war." Robert Bradish, 
representative the preceding year, was re-elected. 

The town, in accordance with a warrant addressed to all that " have 
estate of freehold in lands in this State or Territory of forty shillings 
per annum," or other " estate to the value of fifty pounds sterling," at 
a meeting held on the 22d of May, " Voted and allowed <£9 credit to 
those men who marched the last of April last, now at Rutland." The 
names of the men are not in the Book of Records. At the same time 
the town " Voted and granted £3000 to pay all the service that had 
been done in the present war by inhabitants of this town." It was 
also " Voted to allow £18 to each man who went with Capt. Oaks." 
The destination of Capt. Oaks is not given. With an eye to the fu- 
ture, the town, at this meeting, " Voted to procure men to serve in 
the war," and " Chose a committee of three men to hire men to serve 
in the war for this town in the future." The committee were Capt. 
John Boynton, Dea. Moses Hale, and Capt. Abel Wilder, who were 
authorized to hire money. 

After taking into consideration the Constitution, or Form of Gov- 
ernment, (prepared by the Council and House,) and deliberating 
thereon, it was put to see if the town would accept of the same. • Yeas, 
28 ; Nays, 6. At the same time the town declined to send a repre- 
sentative. 

On the olst of July news came to town requiring action in " hot 
haste." The Selectmen were prompt, and directed Joseph Wilder 
" to warn all the freeholders and other inhabitants of Winchendon, 
living south of the road from Ashburnham, and David Goodridge to 
to warn all living north of said line, to meet in Town Meeting on the 
first day of August, at 6 o'clock in the morning." These constables 
rode, post haste, over the poor roads of that day, on horseback, to get 
word to every man that he must be at the Common at 6 in the morn- 
ing of the next day. One article in the warrant was in these words : 
" Whereas, there is one sergeant and six privates called for to march 
to-morrow, to see if the town will direct the committee to hire them, 
or come to some other method to procure them, and men for the 



94 HISTORY OF WINCHENDOX. 

future." The town voted, " that the committee be directed to hire 
the men that are now called for as heretofore :" and also, " to hire 
men for the future as thej are called for, without calling the town 
together." 

At a meeting on the 18th of November, the town granted £120 in 
addition to the sum granted last spring, to pay the hire given to Con- 
tinental soldiers. At the same time, sums were granted to pay for 
several things relating to the war, as follows : 

" Journey to Watertow-n, after powder, £2, 14s. 

2, 6. 
Concord, after lead, 2, 17, 6. 

" Worcester, to join the Committee of Safety, 2, 0, 0." 

In the beginning of 1778, the town manifested an unflagging zeal 
in the cause of the country. In town meeting on the 23d of January, 
the Articles of Confederation of the United States were read. The 
same meeting " voted and granted £290 to be assessed and collected 
with the town rate in order to pay into the Provincial Treasury agree- 
able to a late Act of Court granting liberty to any town to have any 
part of their quota of State money put on interest." This was recon- 
sidered. On the 2d of February a committee of three persons was 
chosen to " peruse the Articles of Confederation, and report at March 
meeting. Chose Ebenezer Sherwin, Francis Bridge, and Robert 
Bradish." Thus cautiously did the town consider any proposition to 
bring the State into political relations with the other States as a uni- 
ted body. 

At the annual meeting, March 2, Francis Goodhue, James Cool- 
edge, Ebenezer Sherwin, Israel Whiton and Solomon Bigelow, were 
chosen the committee of Correspondence. A new committee was 
also chosen, which shows the care of the town for the families of sol- 
diers : " Dea. Moses Hale, David Brown, Ebenezer Howeand Benja- 
min Brown, a Committee to take care of the Continental soldiers' fam- 
ilies agreeable to the Act of Court." 

At the same meeting, 1778, a Report of the committee chosen by 
the town to estimate the services that had been done since the war 
began, was presented in these words : 

" The following estimations were consented to by the major part of the 
committee, viz : 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDOJ5T. 



95 



First. 

21y. 

31y. 

41y. 

51y. 

Gly. 

71y. 

81y. 

91y. 
lOIy. 



Sjj months to Cambridge, in the year 1775, £15, 

l£ to Dorchester, in 1776, 2, 



Os., 


Od. 


10, 


0. 


6, 


8. 


o, 


0. 


0, 


0. 


o, 


0. 


6, 


8. 


10, 


0. 


10, 


0. 



2 months to Dorchester, in 1776, 3, 

One year in Continental servis, in 1776, 25, 

5 months to York, in 1776, 16, 

4 months to Tie.,* in 1776, 16, 

4 months to Dorchester, in 1776, 6, 

2 months to York, in 1776, 7, 

3 months to York, in 1777, 9, 

As to those men that paid ten pounds to hire the 
Continental men for three years' servis, we look 
upon it that they should be allowed equal to 
three months' servis that was done in the last 

part of the year 1777, being 14, 

Illy. 2 months to Rhodeisland, 1777, 5, 

121y. 1 month to Stillwater, in 1777, 6, 

131y. 1 week to Bennington alarm, in 1777, 2, 

141y. 1 month to Stillwater, in 1777, 4, 

151y. 6 months to Brookfield, in 1778, 6, 

161y. 3 months in the Continental servis, in 1778, 15, 

171y. 3 months to Stillwater, Albany, &c, in 1777, — 14, 

As to them men that went with Lt. Parmcnter and Capt. Oaks, we leave 
it to the town to do as they think proper. 

Voted, and allowed 25sh. to those men who marched on the alarm on the 
19th of April, 1775. 

Benja. Rice. 
Alex'dr May, 
Amos Merriam, 
John Day, 
Daniel Hubbard, 

JoSIIUA GrALE, 

The above Report accepted at an adjournment of the annual meeting, 
March A. D., 1778. 

181y. As to Nathan Knight, that was drafted to go to Brookfield, we 
think that he ought to be allowed 25s. 

191y. Them men that went with Lt. Parmentcr, we think they ought to 
be allowed 30s." , 

In May, " Voted, and granted £3 per month as credit for those men now 
in servis at Rutland." 



0, 


0. 


10, 


0. 


o, 


0. 


o, 


0. 


10, 


0. 


o, 


0- 


o, 


0. 


o, 


0. 



Committee chose 
by the Toivn. 



* Ticonclcrosa ? 



96 HISTORY OF WDJCHENDOtf. 
SECTION 6, PUBLIC SPIRIT. 

The year 1779 witnessed the same activity in regard to the public 
service. On the 14th of January a meeting was called for the next 
day, the warrant being served personally on all the voters by two 
constables. The town allowed £30 to the committee chosen to pro- 
vide for soldiers' families, which they paid to Dr. Green in cash, be- 
sides a note. Also, 18s, to Abel Wilder for going to Cambridge to 
get a State note for the town. 

At the annual meeting on the first of March, the town " chose Capt. 
John Boynton, William* Whitney, James McElwain, a committee to 
hire men for the war." Then " Voted that the above committee hire 
men for the Avar as they are called for, without calling the town to- 
gether ; and when there is occasion for it that they hire money for the 
purpose, and the town will indemnify them for so doing. Voted, to 
allow 6s. per pair for 15 pair of shoes, which the Selectmen provided 
for the soldiers in the year 1778, which sum they gave more than the 
Court's Committee allowed. Voted, to allow £4, 18, 4, for one 
month's service Edward Putnam has done in the war. Voted to 
allow ten pound credit to those men who paid a fine of ten pound for 
not performing the servis they were called upon to do." What the 
' servis' was that was not performed, is not recorded, but it is presum- 
able that the town considered the men excusable. The town also "Vo- 
ted and allowed £28 to Lt. Samuel Prentice for his done in the three 
years' State servis." 

May 20, " Voted £4.10 to Samuel Newton for 2 months' servis 
he did in the Jersies in the year 1776." 

At a meeting held on the 3d of August, it was voted " to comply 
with the spirit of the Resolves passed in the Convention at Concord 
on the 14th of July preceding." A committee was chosen, consisting 
of Dr. Israel Whiton, Dea. Moses Hale and Capt. John Boynton, to 
prepare some plan in regard to prices, and submit it to the town. At 
the adjourned meeting, August 31, this vote was reconsidered, and 
then it was voted " to comply with the spirit of the Resolves of the 
Convention at Worcester, held on the 11th inst., respecting prices. 
Chose a committee of nine to state the prices of those articles not 
enumerated in the proceedings of said Convention. Chose Moses 
Hale, Seth Oaks, Matthew Knight, John Beemis, Samuel Noyes, 



HISTORY OF WINCHEND03J. 97 

Ebenezer Richardson, Francis Goodhue, Theodore May, John Darling. 
Then chose a committee of thirteen to see that the proceedings of 
said Convention are complied with, viz : Francis Bridge, Joseph Boyn- 
ton, John Beemis, Moses Hale, Joshua Gale, Samuel Stone, Benja- 
min Brown, Daniel Hubbard, Matthew Knight, Seth Oaks, Ebenezer 
Sherwin, Francis Goodhue." The people were terribly in earnest. 
Such committees could not, of course, " fix " the prices of things, but 
they could by correspondence arrange to have the charges nearly uni- 
form throughout the Colony, and so prevent imposition upon the igno- 
rant. Another meeting was held at Cambridge on the first Wednes- 
day in October, to which the town sent " Moses," according to the 
Records ; probably Dea. Moses Hale. On the 19th of October, the 
town voted to choose a committee of nine to set a price on the neces- 
saries of life, labor, &c, agreeable to the Resolves of the late. Con- 
vention at Concord, and " likewise to see that such regulations of pri- 
ces are complied with." Chose Samuel Stimpson, John Day, Seth 
Oaks, Joseph Boynton, Abel Wilder, Moses Hale, Joshua Gale, Thad- 
eus Bowman, John Boynton. The action adopting the prices agreed 
on at Concord, was reconsidered, as we have seen, but in this last 
vote, the town went back of the Conventions at Worcester and Cam- 
bridge to that of Concord again, and therefore the report of the com- 
mittee made on the 3d of August, is given in full, in these words : 

' ' That the price of teaming do not exceed 27s. per mile, per ton. 
West India rum, £7, 14, per gallon. 
New England rum, 5, 9, " 
Molasses, 5, 5, " 

Coffee, 1, 1, per lb. 

Sugar from 13s. to 15s., per lb. 
Salt, best quality, £14, 10s., per bushel. 
Ofher West India articles in the same proportion. 
Entertainment. — Meal of Victuals, boiled, 12s. 
Flip and toddy, 14s. per mug or bowl. 
Other articles in the same proportion. 
Farming labor, £3 per day. 

Blacksmith — Shoeing a horse, steeled, £5, 10, and all other work in 
proportion. ' 

Men's best shoes £8, 10, per pair, and other work in proportion. 
Best Wool, £1, 10 per lb.— Flax, 15s. per lb. 

7 



98 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 

The committee consider the above as a sufficient enumeration by which 
the prices of every article of consumption and commerce may be regulated in 
•the same proportion, and that none evade or infringe upon the above regula- 
tions ; or none exceed the prices expressed or understood, without being able 
to render a sufficient or satisfactory reason. 

N. B. Those articles regulated by the Convention not here enumerated, 
the committee refer to the town. 

Ptye at £4, 10, per bushel." 
• The town " Voted and accepted of the above prices as they stand." 

It is probable that tire committee chosen to see this plan enforced, 
could not carry it out in all respects, but the " spirit of the Resolves" 
was generally complied with. 

On the 29th of November it was vofbd to allow " Messrs. Matthew 
Knight, Daniel Goodriclge, Joseph Wilder and Ebenezer Richardson, 
each of them, as much as those men who hired as Continental soldiers 
for three years." 

In 1780, on the 20th of March, John Beemis, Amos Merriam and 
John Day were chosen a committee to hire men for the war. May 
29, Chose Abel Wilder to search into the reason why the town was 
fined £1200 in the last State tax, and get the same taken off if pos- 
sible. 

On the third of July, Joshua Gale, Constable, was required forth- 
with to notify and warn all the freeholders and other inhabitants qual- 
ified by law to act in town affairs, who lived west of the road from the 
meeting-house to Jonathan Whitcomb's, to meet the next day, July 4, 
at 2 o'clock P.M. In like manner, Lieut. Amos Merriam was required 
to warn all who lived east of the road from the meeting-house to Jon- 
athan Whitcomb's, and north of the road to Ashburnham, excepting 
Mr. Bemis, Buttrick and Flint. John Day carried a similar wafciing 
to all living north of Royalston road, and west of the north road. 
Ezra Hi&e notified the remaining part of the town. One article in the 
warrant was " to see if the town will come into some method to expe- 
dite the raising ten men from the militia which are called for." Also, 
" to grant some suitable sum or sums of money to pay soldiers' hire," 
&c. They were also to warn " all the male inhabitants from the age 
of sixteen years old to sixty-five, to appear on the meeting-house Com- 
mon at two of the clock on said day, P. M., with their arms, upon the 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 99 

pains and penalties of the law in that case made and provided." The 
meeting was opened at 2, and Benjamin Brown was chosen* Modera- 
tor. Adjourned to 5, when the meeting " Voted and granted X50,- 
000 for the purpose of hiring men "for the war, and to defray other 
town charges." At the same time eighty-five dollars per day were 
allowed as the wages of a delegate to the Constitutional Convention'. 

SECTION 7. — DEPRECIATED CURRENCY. 

By this time, as will be inferred from the above vote, the currency 
was in hopeless disorder, and the governmental " promises to pay" had 
greatly depreciated. The Continental paper was at par at the open- 
ing of 1777 ; in a year, it took four and a half dollars of currency to 
buy one of specie ; in another year, $1 in specie was equal to $8.38 
in paper ; in 1780 it took 832.50 to buy a silver dollar. In 1781, 
• the rate was " ninety for one," that is, $90 in paper for $1 in specie. 
We need not wonder that in 1782 the town voted " that the Constable 
and Collectors, be directed to receive no more paper money for town 
rates." 

In one case, within a day's ride from Winchendon, a clergyman paid 
his whole salary for the year for a pig four weeks old. It should be 
said, to the honor of his people, that they afterwards took measures to 
make up the deficiency. In 1781, 1412,000 were needed to defray 
town charges. 

The following citations reveal the spirit of our forefathers, while evin- 
cing the methods they took to support the government. " Oct. 23, 
Voted to choose a committee to carry into execution the Resolves of 
the Court respecting providing beef. Chose William Whitney, [the 
best judge of cattle in the town,] Francis Bridge and Joshua Gale. 
Voted that the above committee be directed to purchase two yoak of 
cattle so as to deliver them at Petersham next Wednesday. Also, to 
pay the money for the remaining part of the beef after two yoak of cat- 
tle have been delivered, if 'it can be collected." " Dec. 27, Voted that 
the committee chose last March to hire men for the war, be directed 
to engage this town's quota of men for three years, and report at the 
adjournment of this meeting, how they can get them, and what secu- 
rity they require." 

LOfC. * 



100 history' of winchendon. 

1781. January 1. " Granted £10,000 to procure beef that is now 
called for, and to help procure Continental soldiers." January 29. 
The following vote indicates the state of the currency in the early part 
of 1781. " Voted to pay £300-to Thadeus Bowman for £7, 14, 6, 
due to him in March, 1778. In the March meeting, £15 per day for 
labor on the roads was allowed. At the same meeting a committee 
was authorized to hire men and money for the war without calling the 
town together. On the 25th of June a committee was chosen to pur- 
chase the remaining part of the beef thai is required of the town, as 
may be required the ensuing year. August 6. All sums of money 
granted to be considered to be in hard money. Voted £300 to pay 
towards the hire of three years' men. Also voted £173, 6,^ 8, to 
pay for the hire of three and five months' men, beef, and other things." 
The design in making the preceding citations from the Records, 
has been to show in their own words, the opinions and the deeds of the 
men of the revolutionary era. Nearly everything has been copied 
that relates in any way to the war, and it is believed that no one really 
interested in the part which the town took in the war, will consider the 
narrative tedious. Incidentally, the reader will learn who were the 
most prominent men in civil and military life in the period under review. 
Unfortunately we have no record of the labor and sacrifices made by 
the virtuous and patriotic women of that day, and it is too late to draw 
anything definite from tradition. It is known, generally, that they 
wrought with their own hands, to spin, weave and make up clothing 
for their fathers, husbands, sons and brothers, who went to fight the bat- 
tles of freedom. Besides, they aided the old men and the boys by la- 
boring on the farm in planting, hay and harvest-time, and also in the 
care of the cattle. They were the mates and mothers of heroes. 

It would be impossible, at this late day, to give a perfect history of 
what was done by Winchendon in the war of the revolution ; but much 
may be gathered from the foregoing pages ; and the following extract 
from the Records is of great value. On the 20th of March, 1780, 
John Beemis,Amos Merriam and John Day, were chosen a committee 
to hire men for the war. In April, 1782, they made a Report, which 
' of course does not go back previous to the time of their appointment, 
covering about two years. The Report is as follows : 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 



101 



" Account of money paid by the committee for Jiriug men. 



To Jesse Ellis, 


£535 


10, 


0. 


Samuel Stimpson, 


22 


10 


0. 


To Samuel Russell, 


422 


0, 


. 0. 


Joseph Wilder, 


105 





0. 


To John Heywood, 


150 




0. 


Isaac Stimpson, 


30 





0. 


Jesse Ellis, by pick 


ng 






Josiah Beeman, 


19 


10 


0. 


and sowing 4 acres 






William Whitcomb, 


36 





0. 


of land, 


480 


0, 


0. 


Samuel Stone, 


51 





0. 


To Amos Merriam, 








Abner Hale, 


15 





0. 


for Daniel, 


385 


10, 


0. 


Committee's Rec't, 


216 





0. 


To Jesse Ellis, 


141 


o, 


0. 


William Whitney, 


280 


10 


0. 


Moses Potter, 


150 


2, 


0. 


Joseph Day, 


150, 


8 


0. 


Joseph Day, 


2212 


4, 


0. 


Jesse Ellis, 


141, 





0. 


Abel Brown, 


245 


5, 


0. 


Committee's Rec't, 


30 





0. 


Jonathan Smith, 


321 


4, 


6. 


Benjamin Brown, 


99 





0. 


David Smith, 


150 


2, 


0. 


Committee's Ree'-t, 


106, 


10 


0. 


William Poor, 


454 


12, 


0. 


Jacob Hale, 


57, 





0. 


Samuel Griggs, 


180, 


9 


0. 


Joseph Day, 


152 


16 


0. 


James Stoddard, 


2-10 


0, 


0. 


James Noyes. 


160, 


o, 


0. 


In hard money, £6. 






Edward Withington, 


161 


o, 


0. 


Zenas Stoddard, 


240, 


o, 


0. 


Joseph Day, 


90, 


0, 


0. 


In hard money, £4, 10. 






Joseph Boynton, 


100, 





0. 


Edward Payson, 


1423 


0, 


0. 


Hezekiah Hancock. 


40 


10 


0. 


" " 


90, 


0, 


G. 


Committee's Roe't, 


61, 


4, 


0. 


Erancis Goodhue, 


150, 


2 


0. 


Abel Brown, 


36, 


o, 


0. 


Nathan Maynard, 


390, 


0, 


0. 


Stephen Barrett, 


15, 


o, 


0. 


Jeremiah Lord, 


352, 


o 


0. 


Joseph Day, 


77, 


4, 


0. 


Silas Eemis, 


390, 


o,' 


0. 


Benjamin Rice, 


57, 





0. 


Nathaniel Bixby, 


498, 


o, 


0. 


Daniel Hubbard, 


45 





0. 


Paid as mileage to the 






Joseph Boynton, 


135 





0. 


three months' men, 480, 


0, 


0. 


Committee's Rec't, 


563, 


15. 


t. 


Joseph Wilder, 


94 


10, 


0. 


Edward Payson, 


288, 


7, 


0. 


John Burr, 


87, 


o, 


0. 


Committee's Rec't, 


30, 





0. 


Hezekiah Hancock. 


51 


o, 


0. 


Levi Nichols, 


600, 


0, 


0. 


Ebenezer How, 


12, 


o, 


0. 


James Noyes, 


27 





0. 


Samuel Noyes, 


33, 


o, 


0. 


Abraham Brigham, 


209 





0. 


Joseph Day, 


82, 


17, 


0. 


Abel Wilder, 


37, 


10, 


0. 


John Boynton, 


393, 


15, 


0. 


Joseph Boynton, 


160 





0. 


Committee Receipt, 


31, 


10, 


0. 


Gardner Moor, 


468, 


0, 


0. 


Phillips Switzer, 


110, 


5, 


0. 


Amos Hale, 


30, 


o, 


0. 


Samuel Prentice, 


81, 


0, 


0. 


Uriah Crooks, 


45, 





0. 


Phillips Switzer, 


210, 


0, 


0. 


Samuel Noyes, 


160. 


o, 


0. 


a it 


228, 


0, 


0. 


Uriah Crooks, 


27, 


o, 


0. 


Solomon Biglow, 


160, 


0, 


0. 


James Stoddard, 


30, 


0, 


0. 


Thadeus Bowman, 


84, 


0, 


0. 


Money the committee 








Abner Hale, 


200, 


2, 


0. 


received by the way 






Solomon Biglow, 


10, 


10, 


0. 


of David Smith, 


112, 


10, 


0. 


John Day, 


6, 


2 


0. 


Committee's Rec't, 


46, 


16, 


.0. 


Amos Hale, 


6, 


ol 


0. 











102 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON, 



SECTIO^. 8. — THE ROLL OF HONOR. 

The names in the preceding list are, in several instances, repeated, 
and some of them occur in the following roll. What were the services 
rendered by the men whose names have been given on the foregoing 
page, with the exception of those which are to be found in the columns 
following, cannot now be ascertained. It is certain that some of them 
were in service for a short time during the last two years of the war. 

The following list contains the names of those men of Winchendon, 
who are known to have borne arms in the revolutionary war. The 
larger part of them were inhabitants of the town at the time. A por- 
tion of them moved hither after the war, but their names are record- 
ed in the roll of honor, because they reveal to us the character of the 
people who settled here in the first generation. 

The following men were in the battle of Bunker Hill, viz : 



Capt. Abel Wilder, 
Serg't. Benjamin Rice, 
Samuel Bradish, 
Elisha Brown, 

Timothy Darling, 



John Bay, 
Nathan Bay, 
Amos Hale, 
David Stoddard, 



The following were " Minute Men," ready to take the field at a mo- 
ment's warning, all of whom served more or less during the war. 



Roger Bates. 
Thaddeus Bowman, 
John Boynton, 
Stephen Boynton, 
Samuel Bradish, 
Elisha Brown, 
Samuel Brown, 
Zebulon Conant, 
John Darling, 
John Day, 
Nathan Day, 
David Goodridgc, 
Jacob Hale, 



Moses Hale, 
Bill Hancock, 
Benjamin Kimball, 
Amos Mcrriam, 
Dudley Parley, or Perley, 
John N. Parson, Jr., 
John Porter, 
Benjamin Rice, 
Ephraim Sawyer, 
Eb'r Sherwin, (drummer,) 
Abijah Stimson, 
Ephraim Stimson, 
Joseph Wilder. 



The following, though not at Bunker Hill, nor in the roll of " Min- 
ute Men," were soldiers in active service. 



Gamaliel Beaman, 
Solomon Bigelow, 
Joseph Boynton, 
George Coffin, 



Jewctt B. Darling, 
John Darling, 
Daniel Day, 
Joseph Day, 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDOX. 



103 



Eliphalet Goodridge, 
Jacob Hale, 
Eden London,* 
Theodore May, 
James McEhvain, 
Isaac Nichols, 
Isaac Noycs, 
James Noyes, 
Seth Oaks, 
Richard Parsons, 



David Poor, 

Nathan Pushey, 

David Rice, 

Ahiniaaz Sherwin, (drammer,) 

Jonathan Smith, 

Robert Steel, 

Samuel Steel, 

Luther Stimpson.t 

Joseph Wilder. 



The following men went into the war from other towns, but soon 
afterwards moved into Winchenclon. 



Capfc. Samuel Baldwin, 
Daniel Balcom, 
Thornton Barrett, 
Andrew Benjamin, 
Asa Bowker, 
John Brooks, 
Levi Br»oks, 
Stephen Emery, 
John Estey, 
John Fessendcn, 
John Flint, 
Thomas Flint, 
John Gill, 

Capt. Thomas Greaton, 
Thomas Greenwood, 
Daniel Hubbard, 
Benjamin Hubbard, 
Capt. Lemuel Hey wood, 



Eleazar, Parks, 
Ephraim Parmenter, 
William Poland, Sr., 
Lt. Col. Paul Raymond, 
Lt. Paul Raymond, 
James Raymond,^ 
Phinehas Rice, 
David Roberts, 

Sawtell, 

David Smith, 
Ebenezer Smith, 
Seth Tucker, * 
Jedediah Tuttle, 
Capt. Jacob Wales, 
Jacob Whitney, 
Dr. Israel Whiton, 
Col. Jacob B. Woodbury. 



A few personal anecdotes and incidents will be a fitting conclusion 
to this chapter. 

Stephen Emery, who moved into "the town after the revolution, was 
in the war, and fought at Bunker Hill. His daughter, Mrs. Cum- 
mings, used to relate that her father's gun became so heated, by rapid 
firing, that he was obliged to desist until it became cooled. 

George Coffin, afterwards the well known Dea. Coffin, entered the 
service at the age of sixteen, and remained three years. He was such 



*Eden London was the slave of Daniel Goodridge, and as such was not lia- 
ble to do military dnfcy; but lie served in lieu of his master, on condition of 
becoming a freeman. 

tSon of the first minister. 

*j Went as a substitute about three weeks- 



104 HISTORY OF WINCHENDOff. 

a slender stripling that the recruiting officer inquired if lie could shoot 
a man. He thought he could, with a good gun. At the time of his 
discharge, the army was in Virginia, and he came home on foot, stop- 
ping at various places to earn enough to provide food. How different 
from the return of our soldiers after putting down the rebellion, by 
rail and steamboat ! 

Moses Potter was very short in stature, and in order to " pass" him y 
he was provided with high heeled shoes, by John Day, one of the 
town's committee for hiring men. He made a good soldier, though 
not a giant. 

David Smith assisted .in placing the hand-cuffs upon Andre. He- 
was a blacksmith. 

Seth Tucker was near West Point at the time of Arnold's treason, 
and the capture of Andre. He told me that the army was a " dread- 
ful wicked place." He w r as a man of warm and simple-hearted piety,, 
who was shocked by the profaneness and vice of the camp. 

Luther Stimpson was a mere stripling of sixteen when he entered 
the army, but came out with credit. 

John Darling and Phillip Rollins went with Arnold, through the 
wilds of Maine, to Quebec, and was there when the brave Montgomery 
fell, and was borne from the thick of the fight by young Aaron Burr. 

Lieut. David Poor was out several years. For awhile he was a pris- 
oner in New York, when he worked as a tailor, and received good pay 
from the British officers. While in the army, a soldier made a bet that 
he could walk a certain number of rods with a pumpkin on his head. 
Poor took up the wager. The other started, and was drawing near to- 
the gaol, when Poor, determined not to lose his bet, raised his gun and 
shot the pumpkin from the soldier's head. It is related that when he 
came home, after several years' absence, and dressed in an officer's 
uniform, with a sword by his side, his wife did not recognize him. She 
prepared food for him as a returning soldier, and made inquiries about 
the war, but could not be induced to give him lodgings. At length y 
thinking him indelicately importunate to remain, she seized the long 
fire-shovel, and drove him out. As he passed through the door, he 
turned and laughingly said : " Miss Poor, I guess you don't know me." 
She knew him at once, when her proper indignation gave way to glad- 
ness for his return- 







BE* miETM fTClIll mWMW 



HISTORY OP WINCHENDON. 105 

Smith, above-mentioned, lost one of his hands, but would not aban- 
don the service. By the use of a hook, he contrived to load and fire, 
and to hit his mark. 

But the stories of the soldiers, if they could be collected, would fill 
a volume. It is necessary to pass from the history of individuals, to 
that of the town. It may however be proper to record in this place, 
that Jonathan Pollard, Aaron Ellis, Thornton Barrett, and James Bra- 
dish, Sr., were in the last French war. Barrett was shot in the body 
at Fort Edward, and all of them saw hard service. In the same war, 
Robert Bradish, Sr., was a scout. 



106 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 



CHAPTER VII.— SHAYS' REBELLION, 



"Ah me ! what perils do environ 
The man that meddles with cold iron ! 
For though Dame Fortune seems to smile, 
And leer upon him for a while, 
She'll after show him, in the nick 
Of all his glories, a dog-trick." 

Butleii. 



SECTION 1. — GRIEVANCES. 

The next event in order, in connection with the history of the town, 
which requires distinct treatment, is what is called " Shays' Rebellion." 
The temptation to give a general account of this affair, will be avoided, 
while attention will be confined, as far as possible, to the part which 
Winchendon shared in it, with many other towns extending from Bris- 
tol to Berkshire. The people of this place felt the deepest interest in 
the matter, and there was a brief season when war seemed imminent 
even here between neighbors, relatives and friends. There are prob- 
ably aged persons who remember the old ballad about Shays that be- 
gan in this way : — 

"My name is Shays, 

In former days 

Iu Pelham I did dwell, Sir, 

I was obliged to quit that place 

Because I did rebel, Sir." 

If not, they remember, without doubt, hearing of Shays and his re- 
bellion, in their childhood. 

After the revolutionary war many people were very poor, and many 
soldiers who had fought and suffered severely, found themselves desti- 
tute. It was a hard time to pay debts, and even honest people felt that 
their creditors were too pressing. Besides, loose notions were abroad, 
and some held the idea that the *ie policy was to divide all property 



HISTORY OP WTXCIIENDON. 107 

equally among the people. One man being asked what should be done, 
when in the course of years, some men became richer than others, ex- 
pressed the wish of many in his reply : " divide again." The discon- 
tent was so great in Massachusetts, as to create alarm in the breast of 
Washington and other patriots throughout the Union, lest all the fruits 
of the war of independence would be lost. Complaints began to be 
made before the return of peace, and the acknowledgment of our nfHon- 
ality by the king of England, but there was no actual outbreak except 
mobs at Northampton and one or two other places, for two or three 
years. The hardships of the people increased however, and many be- 
came impatient. That large numbers should be in debt, after so long 
a war, was inevitable. Moreover all the evidence of tradition and rec- 
ords concurs in the verdict, that intemperance had greatly increased, 
as well as vice and immorality generally. The irregular habits of camp 
life, and the prevalence of French infidelity had done much in the way 
of demoralizing the people. The only remedy for the unhappy state 
of affairs, was a reformation of morals, industry and frugality. But 
this process would require the self-denial which many were not ready 
to endure. It is doubtless true also that many persons who had means ; 
speculators who had become wealthy during the war, and others, took 
advantage of the necessities of the poor, and those in moderate circum- 
stances, and pressed for the payment of debts when liquidation was 
impossible without ruinous sacrifice to the debtor. 

The movement finally took the shape of an attack on the Courts of 
Justice, for the purpose of delaying judgment against debtors.. The 
State was in debt to the amount of several millions, including the State 
debt, what was due to officers and soldiers, and its proportion of the 
national debt. Probably the State could now carry more easily the 
load of 8100,000,000, than our fathers could bear what weighed upon 
them in 1786. Their situation and wants may be inferred from the 
action of County Conventions held in 1786, at Concord, Leicester, Pax- 
ton and Hatfield, in the month of August and later in the autumn. 
The evils they wished to have redressed were ^" Sitting of the General 
Court in Boston ; 2, The want of a circulating system ; 3, The abu- 
ses in the practice of the law, and the exorbitance of the fee table ; 4, 
The existence of the Courts of Common Pleas in their present mode of 
administration ; 5, The appropriating the revenue arising from tne im- 



108 HISTORY OF WINCIIENDON. 

post and excise to the payment of the interest of the State securities ; 
6, The unreasonable and unnecessary grants made by the General 
Court to the Attorney General and others ; 7, The Servants of the 
government being too numerous, and having too great salaries ; 8, The 
existence of the Senate." The Conventions expressed devotion to the 
government, even while favoring measures that undermined all exist- 
ing authority. For example, the Convention at Paxton, November 3, 
1786, declared that however they might suffer in their characters, per- 
sons and estates, they should think themselves " happy if they could, 
in the least degree, contribute to restore harmony to the Common- 
wealth, and to support the weight of a tottering empire." 

To carry out their design, they organized into armed bands, led gen- 
erally by officers who had fought in the Revolution. It is to be noted 
that no officers of distinction, and none above the rank of captain, were 
visible in the movement ; though it has been the opinion of not a few, 
that such a wide- spread and concerted outbreak taking a military form, 
must have been fostered by men of capacity and wicked ambition, who 
were directing in secret, till matters should come to such a head that 
they could openly assume command with the hope of success, and per- 
haps of becoming the head of a new order of things. 

These bands met in Taunton, Concord, Worcester, Springfield, 
Northampton and Lenox, and in several cases succeeded in forcing an 
adjournment of the Courts, and thus compelled the creditor class to 
wait for the payment of their dues. This action of the rebels, for such 
they finally became, made it necessary for the State to take extraordi- 
nary measures for the maintenance of its authority. But before nar- 
rating the closing scene, when the rebellion was suppressed, it is our 
part to follow the proceedings of the town in its corporate capacity. 
The votes passed will be given with sufficient fulness to exhibit the state 
of things here at the time. It will be seen by the reader that there 
was almost a dramatic interest in the proceedings of a town meeting, 
which in ordinary times are prosaic and dull. 

On the 4th of Februcny, 1786, the town voted to instruct their rep- 
resentative in the General Court — Abel Wilder — " to use his influence 
to have an act passed making personal, and in some cases, real estate 
a tender to satisfy debts, when the action is commenced, or to give any 
other instruction the town shall think proper." The committee of in- 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDOK". 109 

ftruetions were Levi Nichols, Samuel Crosby, Stephen Barrett, Ben- 
jamin Kidder and Dea. Hale. The town voted in " favor of the [pro- 
posed] tender act," and " against having paper money," and then " to 
have paper money, provided a tender act could not be obtained." 

In these days if there was general discontent, it would be manifested 
in the organization of a party to seek redress in a peaceable way, but 
in 1786, this course was not taken. No arrangements were made to 
change the State government, but the towns expressed the general 
sentiment in the election of their representatives. Thus the discontent 
ran into violence and military resistance. At the election in Slay, the 
votes in this town show that no expectation of redress was expected 
from the election of governor, and other State officials. 

Gov. James Bowdoin had 12 votes, John Hancock, 7, Benjamin 
Lincoln, 4, for the office of governor ; Lieut. Gov. Benjamin Lincoln 
had 7 votes, and gliomas Cushing 4 for the second office. Abel Wil- 
der had 17 for fltnator and Councillor. At the same time the latter 
was unanimously chosen representative. 

SECTION 2. — EXCITED TOWN MEETINGS. 

On the 11th of August the question came up in town meeting wheth- 
er a delegate should be sent to a Convention of Worcester county, to 
be held by adjournment, at the house of George Bruce, in Leicester, 
on the 15th of the month. The motion passed in the affirmative, when 
Mr. Samuel Litch was unanimously chosen for the above purpose. A 
committee of five was chosen to draw up instructions to the delegate, 
viz : Levi Nichols, Ebenezer Richardson, Matthew Knight, James Mc 
Elwain, and James Steel. The meeting adjourned for one hour, that 
the committee might have time to draw up the instructions. These 
are not on the Records. The meeting then adjourned to the 21st, to 
hear a report from Mr. Litch, when he laid the proceedings of the 
Convention before the town. On the 6th day of October, Mr. Litch 
brought a petition of Convention — probably some later meeting of the 
same Comvention — before the town, when the town voted " it agreea- 
ble to their mind." Mr. Litch was instructed to attend an adjourned 
meeting of the Convention. Then adjourned to November 21st, at 
which time Mr. Litch presented an address of the Convention to the 
people, which being read, the town "voted it agreeable to their minds." 



110 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 

Adjourned to December 18. An Act of the General Court was then 
read. This was probably the Act relating to private debts, intended 
to favor the debtor class. The meeting then adjourned to January 1, 
1787. All this time the insurgents were in arms, and the Government 
troops were moving to the scene of action. 

At the adjourned meeting, on the first day of the new year, the ad- 
dress from the General Court to the people was read, and' several acts 
and laws. These laws included a " tender act ;" an " act of indem- 
nity ;" an " act reducing fecbills ;" an " act for the more easy pay- 
ing of back taxes;" and an " act regulating the Courts of Common 
Pleas and Sessions of the Peace." They were all intended to remove 
every just cause of complaint, and thus take away all excuse for re- 
sisting 4he Government. At the same time, while showing this kindly 
regard for the suffering classes, the Government maintained its honor 
and authority by raising a sufficient force to quell Ae iebellion. 

Before giving the action of this meeting, it is ne^fesary to go back 
a few days, and bring up a few other proceedings bearing on the sub- 
ject before it for consideration. Here is a document which shows the 
state of mind quite prevalent here, and gives the names of many of 
the actors. 

" To the Selectmen of Winclicndon : 

Gentlemen : We the subscribers request that you [call] a town 
Electing, to be held on Thursday, the 21th of this instant, at two of the clock 
in the afternoon, to act on the following articles, viz : 

First, to choose a moderator to govern said meeting. 

2dly, To take into consideration a letter directed to the Town Clerk of 
Winclicndon, respecting the Regulators, (as they are called) signed by Rug- 
les Spooner, and ail letters and papers that has, or may be sent to the said 
town of Winclicndon, before the said meeting herein before requested, re- 
specting the present mode of government within this State, and the opposition 
made by the above-mentioned Regulators, and take the minds of the town 
thereon, or act on the whole as they shall think proper. 

December loth, 1786. 

Francis Bridge, Eli Smith, Joshua Gale, Jeremiah Lord, Ahimaas Sher- 
win, Asa Robinson, Paul Boynton, Ebenczcr Sherwin, Daniel Hubbard, Sol- 
omon Bigelow, Bill Hancock, David Stoddard, James Steel, Levi Bixby, 
Amos Heywood, Samuel Steel, Nathan Knight, Daniel Balcom, Samuel 
Noyes, Nathan Flint, John Beemis, Bartholomew Stearns, Jonathan Stimp- 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. Ill 

son, Moses Halo, Abner Hale, Abner Curtice, Ebenezer Richardson, Ado- 
nijah Bixby, Samuel Litch, Thos. Greaton, Isaac Proughty, Auiariah Haven, 
Thomas Rugg, Bemsly Lord, Jacob Hale, Amos Hale, Jcwett Darling, 
Jonathan Smith." 

This petition was so cautiously worded that the opinions of the sign- 
ers could not tie positively inferred at this late day, but it is known 
that their sympathies were with the Regulators. They took care, 
however, to avoid all action in town meeting, which would involve 
themselves in the guilt of rebellion.. The meeting was held in accord- 
ance with this petition, on the 21st of December, and Samuel Litch 
was chosen Moderator. Upon a motion being made " to see whether 
the town will take up the letter under consideration, the vote passed 
in the affirmative." A motion was then made " to see if the town 
will petition the Governor and Council to liberate Capt. Shattuck and 
others, taken by Government, agreeable to the request in said letter." 
Carried in the affirmative. This Capt. Shattuck was a prominent 
leader in the Shays movement, in Middlesex county. His violence 
had led justly to his arrest and imprisonment. A motion was then 
made " to see if the town will petition the Senate and House of Rep- 
resentatives to suspend the Court of Common Pleas, till a new choice 
of the General Court." The yeas had it. Then chose the following 
committee to draw up the petition : Dea. Moses Hale, Eli Smith, Fran- 
cis Bridge, Matthew Knight, and Ebenezer Richardson. Then the 
meeting adjourned to January 1, 1787. Here follows the petition. 

" To Ids Excellency James Bowdoin, Esq. 

The Petition of the town of Winchendon humbly sheweth : 
That whereas, there is great disturbance as to the administration of gov- 
ernment in this State, and it appears to this town that it will not do to settle 
matters by fire and sword : but for the parties to unite in a peaceable way 
and manner, — this is therefore to pray your Excellency to immediately lib- 
erate Capt. Shattuck and others taken in the county of Middlesex, and con- 
fined in the town of Boston, in consequence of the opposition they have made 
to the present mode of government ; and as it is our opinion it will be the most 
direct way to still the commotions now subsisting among the people. And 
your petitioners, in duty bound, shall ever pray." 

We now return to the meeting on the first of January, 1787, to 
which the meeting of the 18th, and that of the 21st of December, 
were adjourned. 



112 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 

The address and acts having been read, as stated above, a marked 
effect was produced. The majority of the meeting were evidently con- 
vinced that the government was right, though only ten days before, 
the petition in favor of Capt. Shattuck had been approved. It was 
first moved " to see if the tovrn will continue a member at the Conven- 
tion." Decided in the negative. Then it was moved." to see if the 
town will dismiss their member from any further service in Conven- 
tion.*' The yeas had it, and the meeting adjourned. There was 
another meeting three days later, in which the contest was renewed ; 
but the government men were still in the ascendant. According to 
the Records, " the draft — that is, of the Petition to the Governor — 
came up again, when it was moved to see if the town will accept the 
same in the present form." No, the town will not accept it. A mo- 
tion was then made to amend the paper ; but the town would not 
amend it. Growing bolder, the friends of government then moved 
" to see if the town will vote to recall the Petition sent to his Excel- 
lency the Governor, to liberate Cant. Shattuck," &c. This motion 
passed in the affirmative. Whether this vote to recall merely means 
to rescind, or whether the committee had sent off the Petition, and 
this vote was to send for it, is uncertain ; but it is clear that this meet- 
ing was resolved to stand by the constituted authority. The meeting 
then adjourned to the loth instant. 

And now the tables were turned. The other party rallied in force, 
and reversed the former action of the town. The first motion was to 
dissolve the meeting ; but this was negatived. After an hour's ad- 
journment, the meeting again assembled, when it was moved " to see 
if the town will reconsider a vote passed at a former adjournment of 
this meeting. Said vote is as follows, to wit : " to see if the town will 
vote to recall a petition sent to his Excellency the Governor, to liber- 
ate Capt. Shattuck," kc. The vote being put, it passed in the affirm- 
ative." That is, the town had voted a petition, then it had voted to 
recall the petition, and now it voted to reconsider the vote of recall, and 
the result was, that the petition was the final action of the town. The 
meeting then adjourned, and the matter rested. Nothing farther was 
done in town meeting in relation to the insurrection, or the grievances 
that brought it on ; but at the subsequent March meeting, the Shays 
men had the majority, and put their friends in office, making an almost 



HISTORY OP WINCHENDON. 113 

clean sweep of those who were elected the year before, unless some of 
them happened to be on their side. But in the following May, Abel 
Wilder, a friend of the government, was sent again to the General 
Court. This might have been due to his great personal popularity, 
for the people never lost confidence in him amid all the changes of the 
times. 

Having thus given the Records of the exciting town meetings, it is 
necessary to return and present some view of the action of individuals 
in relation to the same subject. And here use will be made to some ex- 
tent, of the words of Dr. Whiton. The government raised a force of 
4,400 men to bring the rebels to submission. " When the order came 
to draft this town's quota of the troops, one of the most exciting scenes 
occurred ever witnessed in this place. The large militia company, the 
only one then in the place, was assembled on the centre Common. A 
numerous crowd of other citizens stood around, of whom a decided ma- 
jority were Shays' men, many of them good men and honest, but goad- 
ed on by trying times, to measures which sober second thought disap- 
proved. There was a considerable minority of firm and resolute men, 
determined to support the existing government. The parties, with ex- 
cited feelings, now stood face to face. The Shays men threatened that 
if the government men raised the required quota of soldiers, they would 
send on two to one to strengthen the insurgents. The government men 
looked on with deep anxiety, fearing they should be unable to raise the 
men. When the drummer began his round to beat up for volunteers, 
it was to both sides, a moment of painful suspense ; all voices were 
hushed ; but the resolution of one man soon changed the scene. Will- 
iam Whitney, who came into the town in 1744, a prominent and de- 
cided government man, father of the late well-known Capt. Phinehas 
Whitney, addressing his son, who was one of the company, exel: imed 
aloud, ' Turn out, Phin.' Immediately JPhin stepped from the ranks 
and followed the drummer. It was a bold example and had an impor- 
tant influence on the result. Successively one after another followed 
the example, and the required number of men was soon raised." Hos- 
tile feeling ran high ; while the government men were running bullets 
at the house of Esq*. Crosby, the Shays men were employed at the same 
hour, in the very same business, at the house of a neighbor. At this 
time the government men wore a fillet of white paper in their hats, as 



114 HISTORY OF WINCEENIfON. 

their badge of distinction, while the Shays men were designated by a 
tuft of pine, or as Mr. Hyde says, " a sprig of evergreen." But the 
evergreen speedily withered. In a few weeks the insurrection was 
suppressed, and the wheels of government rolled on smoothly in their 
accustomed track. 

How many men from this town actually joined the insurgents, can- 
not be stated with accuracy at this remote time, and it might not be of 
any use to record their names, if they were known. It is probable 
that the number was very small. The people of this place desired a 
redress of grievances, and this the government hastened to grant. No 
action taken by the town directly favored treason or rebellion ; and it 
is quite certain that the opposition of individuals ended in talk. The 
name of one man may be given with certainty, and without impropri- 
ety, as an insurgent, since the fact was published at the time in the 
county paper. The Worcester Magazine, printed in the second week 
of February, 1787, contains the following passage : " A correspondent 
informs us that the member of Convention from the town of Winchen- 
don, whose name is [Samuel] Litch, went off wfth his arms, week be- 
fore last, and actually joined the insurgents under Adam Wheeler." 
The " week before last" would be toward the close of January, and thus 
Mr. Litch had time to reach the camp before the final march and de- 
feat. Adam Wheeler was a bold, rough revolutionary captain, living 
in Hubbardston, who was very forward in the rebel movement. 

SECTION 3. — THE FLIGHT. 

The drama was hasting to its ignoble exit. After various maneu- 
verings, the insurgents were collected, in considerable force, in Pelham, 
about the 29th of January, and on Saturday, the 2d of February, see- 
ing the government troops advancing, they began a retreat in the even- 
ing. The weather was mild, and the evening light, but at length snow 
began to fall. The insurgents could find no shelter, and so pressed 
forward all night, until the morning of the 3d, when they halted in 
Petersham to prepare their breakfast and take some rest. This was 
Sunday morning, the snow flying thick and fast, and being piled in 
drifts. The weather had become intensely cold. The Shays men sup- 
posed that their pursuers had halted, and felt increased security from 
pursuit on account of the raging of the storm. But this was the cause 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 115 

of their sudden surprise and total rout. As the government soldiers 
could find no place of shelter and comfort, they kept moving all night, 
for the sake of keeping up a circulation of the blood. The result was 
that they came pouring into Petersham in the morning, and captured 
two hundred find fifty of the insurgents. According to the narrative 
of the late Col. Benjamin Adams, and Capt. Phinehas Whitney, who 
were in the ranks of the government troops, — being then quite young 
— they caught the Shays men cooking their breakfast ; but they took to 
their heels, leaving the kettles on the camp fires. The troops helped 
themselves to a warm meal, and the great mass of the rebels disap- 
peared like a morning mist. A portion of them fled to Winchester, 
N. PL, from whence they scattered, in smaller numbers; but a large 
part left the camp at Petersham for their homes. They hid their guns, 
and gave up all sign of opposition, for the declaration of a rebellion had 
been issued, and the government was pursuing with an overwhelming 
force. 

One anecdote, related by Dr. Whiton, will here find its appropriate 
place. " After the dispersion of the insurgents at Petersham, four or 
five of them belonging to Middlesex county, passed through this town 
on their way home, in ill-humor at their want of success. Calling at 
Dr. Whiton's, where Mr. Winn has resided for many years, and find- 
ing the Dr. a strong government man, one of them used high words, and 
threatened to run him through with his bayonet. The Dr. raised a heavy, 
long-handled iron shovel to defend himself; his wife, affrighted, seized 
from the cradle, her sleeping infant, for protection; but the passionate 
man was checked by one of his more prudent associates, who told him 
it would never do to threaten a man's fife in his own house, and induced 
his companions immediately to depart." That infant thus snatched 
from the cradle, became the Rev. Dr. Whiton. Thus ended a wild 
and utterly unjustifiable attempt to work a change in the laws, if not 
in the form of government, of the State. In a few years the misguid- 
ed insurgents and their friends were glad of their failure, and were zeal- 
ous supporters of the constituted authority. Party bitterness, in this 
place, gave way to old neighborly kindness,and the parties lived in peace 
together as if they had never been at variance. 

Mr. Litch, being obnoxious to the penalty of the law, left the State, 
and never returned to reside. Others kept out of public view for a sea- 



116 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON, 

son. One or more took refuge on the borders of the Monomonauk ? 
whe re they had a boat, and a hut. The boat was for flight as well as 
for fishing. But the government was lenient, and the men soon re- 
turned to their homes, where they were unmolested by the officers of 
the law, while they were respected by their neighbors. An old ballad 
has been quoted already ; — another will furnish a fitting close to this 
narrative. 

" Says sober Will, ' well Shays has fled, 
And peace returns to bless our days.' 

'Indeed!' gries Ned, 'I always said, 
He'd prove at last a, fall back Shays;* 

And those turned over and undone, 
Call him a worthless Shays to run.'' " 



* The chaise, then in use, was sometimes spelled shay, like the insurgent 
leader's name. 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 117 



CHAPTER VIII. — STATE AND NA- 
TIONAL AFFAIRS. 

SECTION 1. — REPRESENTATION. 

" A firm union will be of the utmost moment to the peace and liberty of the 
States as a barrier against domestic faction and insurrection." 

The Federalist. 

In tliis chapter the connection of Winchendon with the political ac- 
tion of the times, will be briefly traced. In the Revolution, the people 
were unanimous, so far as is now known, in supporting the Declaration 
of Independence, and they did not falter, nor withhold their support, 
till peace and independence were secured. Shays' Rebellion divided 
the town into two hostile bands, a majority of the people being on the 
side of the insurgents, though but a very few of them engaged in any 
hostile acts, while much of the intelligence, property and moral worth 
of the place steadfastly adhered to the government. In regard to oth- 
er questions there was difference of opinion, and the people ranged them- 
selves with the great parties of the country, though without the violence 
and rancor which characterized the times of Shays. 

Winchendon was rather backward in claiming her place in the State 
House. For several years after the organization of the town, no del- 
egate was sent to the House of Representatives. In May, 1770, the 
town declined to send a representative. Similar action was taken in 
several of the next succeeding years. Robert Bradish, a plain, rough, 
but sensible man, was sent in 1776, and 1777, to the General Court. 
At the meeting, May 27, for choosing their representative, the town 
chose a Committee of seven persons to draft instructions for his guid- 
ance. As a peculiar interest attaches to every name engaged in the 
heroic work of those times, they will be given in full. The same rule 
will hold in the future. The committee were Ebenezer Sherwin, Thorn- 
ton Barrett, Moses Hale, Daniel Goodridge, Richard Pearson, Abel 
Wilder and Benjamin Brown. The Report of the committee which was 
approved by the town, was in these words. 



118 HISTOKY OF WINCHENDON, 

"To Mr. Robert Bradish, 

Sir: You being legally appointed to represent the town of Win- 
cbendon in the Great and General Court the ensuing year, the town think 
proper to give you the following instructions, viz: That you use your influence 
to the utmost, to obtain a repeal of an Act, passed by the General Court in 
the close of their session in the year 1776, entitled an Act for a more equal 
representation. And upon the repeal of said Act, to issue writs for the choice 
of a new House, and then dissolve. And in case the said Act should not be 
repealed, not to proceed to any business, but return home." 

SECTION 2". — STATE CONSTITUTION. 

The first vote of the town, May 22, 1778, on the subject of a State 
Constitution, has already been mentioned. The state of the case was 
this. The General Court of 1777-8, in accordance wjth a recommen- 
dation of the General Court of the previous year, met together as a 
Convention, and adopted a form of Constitution " for the State of Mas- 
sachusetts Bay," which was submitted to the people. This town voted 
in its favor, 25 to 6, but it was rejected by the State. At this same 
meeting the town declined to send a representative to the legislature. 
The General Court followed up the movement for a new Constitution, 
by passing a Resolve on the 20th of February, 1779, calling upon the 
qualified voters to give in their votes on the questions — Whether they 
chose to have a new Constitution or Form of Government made, and, 
Whether they will empower their representatives to vote for calling a 
State Convention for that purpose. The people, by a large majority, 
voted in favor of both these propositions, and then the General Court, 
on the 17th of June, 1779, passed a Resolve, calling on the people to 
choose delegates to a Constitutional Convention, to be held in Cam- 
bridge on the 1st of the ensuing September. The people of this town, 
on the 20th of May, 1779, voted in favor of having a new Constitution, 
18 to 7, and at the same time declined to send a representative in the 
General Court. In accordance with the above Resolve, a town meet- 
ing was held on the 8th of July, and Abel Wilder, Esq., was chosen 
delegate to the Convention at Cambridge. It may be stated here, that 
at a subsequent meeting, in July, 1780, the town " voted and granted 
85 dollars per day for 34 days service at the Convention on the Con- 
stitution, the whole, £367," or #2890. 

The Convention met on the first of September, and was presided 
over by James Bowdoin. After organization, a committee of thirty 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 119 

■was chosen, to whoni the work of drawing up a " Declaration of Rights 
and the Form of a Constitution," was assigned. The Convention then 
bad " a general and free conversation" upon the subject of a " Decla- 
ration and Rights," &c, in the presence of their committee, after which 
the body adjourned to the 28th of October. The committee of thirty 
appointed John Adams to draught a " Declaration of Rights," and a 
sub-committee of three, viz: James Bowdoin, Samuel Adams and 
John Adams, to prepare a " Form of Government." This committee 
assigned this task to John Adams, who was thus the author of the 
whole work, which was, finally, after being somewhat amended, adopt- 
ed by the Convention. What part the delegate of this town took in 
the proceedings, does not appear, as the debates were not published. 
His name is not found in the Journal as a member of any committee, 
but doubtless a man of his sense and weight of character, had influ- 
ence in private discussion. After several adjournments the Convention 
completed their work, and submitted it to the scrutiny of the people. 

It should be noted that the warning of the meeting to choose dele- 
gates to the Convention, was addressed " to all the freeholders and oth- 
er inhabitants, being free and twenty-one years of age," thus putting 
the great work of forming a new frame of government into the hands 
of all the people, without regard to property or rank. The same for- 
mula was used in calling the town meeting to vote on the Constitutio% 
held on the 15th of May, 1780. It was in these words : " All male 
persons, inhabitants of Winchendon, being free and twenty-one years 
of age," &c, were warned to meet and " hear the Declaration of Rights 
and Constitution or Form of Government for the State of the Massa- 
chusetts Bay." After reading the above instrument of government, 
the meeting adjourned to the 24th of May, that the people might form 
their deliberate conclusion. The meeting met and again adjourned to 
the 29th, when the vote was taken, as follows : 

" For the Constitution with the Amendments, 21 yeas. 

For the Frame of Government as it stands, yeas, 9 ; nays, 2." 

The people of the State approved of the new Constitution, and un- 
der it the first General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts 
met at the State House in Boston, on Wednesday, October 25, 1780. 
Abel Wilder represented the town in the House, or the county in the 
Senate, from this time to his decease in 1792. On May 20th, 1782, 
Samuel Crosby, Esq., Dea. Moses Hale and Mr. Alexander Brown, 



120 HISTORY OF WltfCHENDON. 

were chosen a committee to draw some instructions for " ye represen- 
tative, Abel Wilder, Esq." These instructions are not on record, and 
the design of them is not known. On the 5th of April, 1784, Mr. 
Wilder received 25 votes for Senator and Counsellor. This vote brought 
his name before a larger constituency, which a year or two later adopt- 
ed him. 

In 1786, January (>, it was voted u to take taxes in shingles," in the 
ease of several persons. In March, the town voted a hundred pounds to 
pay the town debt, and in keeping with its honorable course towards- 
the new town of Gardner, the proportion assessed to that town was de- 
ducted. 

SECTION 3. NATIONAL CONSTITUTION. 

In 1788, March 10, Dea. Moses Hale was chosen delegate to the 
State Convention to consider the proposed Constitution for the United 
States. There was a powerful opposition to the adoption of the Con- 
stitution, which would perhaps have been defeated, in the Convention, 
if the great patriot, Samuel Adams, and his compeer, John Hancock, 
had not been induced to give it their support. A majority of the del- 
egates' from Worcester county, including the delegate from this town, 
on the final vote, were found in the negative. 

Those persons, as a general rule, who had favored the Shays' move- 
rffent, were opposed to the adoption of the Constitution of the United 
States. There was a prevalent fear that the central government would 
become too strong ; and they could not foresee that a great, wicked, and. 
bloody rebellion would in the next century, grow in part, out of a jeal- 
ousy for State rights. But besides these, there were others who were 
reluctant to enter into a union with slave-holders, and become bound 
to endure the slave trade until 1808, and take on themselves the obli- 
gation to restore fugitives from servitude. Their fears have been more- 
than realized in our recent history. If the men of 1788 could have- 
clearly foreseen the evils that a tolerated system, of oppression has 
brought upon this generation, it is hardly conceivable that they would 
have entered the Union except on condition of the total abolition of 
slavery in all the States. 

The first meeting to choose officers under the Constitution of the 
United States, was held on the 18th of December, 1788, when the 
town cast its vote in favor of Washington and Adams for President 
and Vice President- 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 121 

Samuel Adams received every vote for Governor, on the 6th of 

April, 1795. 

At the election, in 1792 and 1796, the Presidential candidates sup- 
ported by the federal party received a large majority of the votes cast 
by the freemen of Winchendon. 

The warrant for a town meeting in the last year of the last century, 
was addressed to " the freeholders and other inhabitants of the town 
qualified by law to vote in town meetings, viz : " such as pay to our 
single tax besides the poll or polls, a sum equal to two-thirds of a sin- 
gle poll tax." The warrant for a meeting to choose a representative 
was " to the male inhabitants of the town, being twenty-one years of 
age, and resident in the town for the space of one year next preceding, 
having a freehold estate of the annual income of three pounds, or any 
estate to the value of fifty pounds." 

The voters of this town gave to Washington their most cordial and 
zealous support during both of his presidential terms. When troops 
were called for to suppress the " Whiskey rebellion" in Pennsylvania, 
they were ready to take the field. When he died, they sincerely 
mourned, in common with the great mass of his countrymen. Mr. 
Adams, though following in the foofsteps of his predecessor, met with 
a strenuous, and even fierce opposition, especially in the South ; but 
his own State was united in his support. The people of Winchendon 
concurred with the State in casting their votes for him, in the autumn 
of 1796, and also in 1800, when he was defeated. Their resentment 
against the insults of the French government was ardent, and they 
were ready to take up arms in defence of the honor of the nation. The 
well-known song, " Adams and liberty," was a favorite with our pat- 
riotic and high-spirited ancestry of that period. But Mr. Jefferson, 
the leader of the Virginia school of politics, came into power. The 
" Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions" superseded the principles of 
Washington, Adams and Marshall, and the country entered on a career 
which naturally culminated in the wicked rebellion of 1861. 

In closing these notices of the political affinities of the town, it is 
but fair to state, that though the Rev. Mr. Brown, then supported by 
the town in its capacity as a parish, was a firm friend of the Govern- 
ment, in the time of* the Shays excitement,' he was not, on that account, 
called in question, the people, even in the time of the most violent agi- 
tation, conceding to their minister his right to untramelled action as a 
citizen. 



122 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 



CHAPTER IX.-EDUCATION PRE- 
VIOUS TO 1800. 



"Beside yon straggling fence that skirts the way, 
With blossom'd- furze, unprofitably gay, 
There, in his noisy mansion, skilled to rule, 
The village master, taught his little school." 

Goldsmith. 

In this chapter, a full, though concise history will be given of the 
progress of education, including schools, school-houses, districts, teach- 
ers, committees, &c, down to the opening of the present century. 
The first entry in the Records bearing on this subject, is dated May 
5, 1765, when eight dollars were appropriated for schooling. This 
was the first year after the organization of the town. The school was 
at the Centre. The sum granted, March 3, 1766, was $20. In 1767, 
813. The next year, the appropriation was six pounds, or twenty dol- 
lars ; and it was voted as follows : " the extreme parts of the town to 
have a school by themselves, they providing a place and keeper." This 
year one bill brought against the town was for " a horse to bring the 
school dame up and carry her down again," five shillings. She be- 
longed, of course, to one of the lower towns. On the 6th of March, 
1769, forty shillings were devoted to schooling, and the Selectmen 
were authorised to lease eighty acres of school land, and use the pro- 
ceeds in supporting a school. The school land was rented for school- 
ing in 1772, and in the next year, twelve pounds, besides the rent of 
the school land. The following bill helps to fill out the picture of those 
primitive times. 

"The town of Winchendon Dr., to me for Boarding the school Dame, 
Mrs. Down, four weeks, at three shillings per week, £0, 12, 0, 0." 

On the 7th of March, 1774, £7, 6s. was devoted to schooling, 
" partly rents, and partly money not used last year." At the same 
time, " voted, to choose a committee to divide the town into districts 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 123 

for schooling. Chose Daniel Goodridge, Moses Hale, William Whit- 
ney, John Boynton and Seth Oaks." 

SECTION 1. — THE FIRST DISTRICTS. 

The committee made a report dated March 17, 1774, which was 
accepted by the town. This action did not constitute legal districts, 
in the modern acceptance of the term, but merely divided the town into 
sections for school purposes, the town still having full care of the 
schools. It will be interesting to know where the population was loca- 
ted at the opening of the Revolution. The report here follows. 

"We the subscribers, being chosen by the town of Wincbendon, legally 
assembled on the seventh day of March — 1774, — a committee to appoint 
places for school houses to be set up in order for scbools to be kept in said 
town, have agreed upon the following places which appear to us to [be] most 
convenient for said purposes. 

For the southwest part of the town we have agreed to have a school house 
upon the road between Potato brook and Joseph Wilder's [now Luke Wil- 
der's] house, if the town shall think proper. [Never built.] 

For the southeast part of the town we think proper to have a school house 
on the new county road about half a mile south of Win. Whitney's, as near 
the south side of the first brook south of said Whitney's as the land will 
allow of. [ThuMlection was afterwards set off to Gardner.] 

For the east fart of the town, we think the most convenient place for a 
school house is in the great road by Mr. Dudley Perley's. [That isfton the 
old road from the Centre to Ashburnham.] 

For the north part of the town, it appears to us that the most convenient 
place for a school house to be set up is on the county road near where the 
road turns out that leads by Mr. John Boynton's to Kindge. [John Boyn- 
ton lived on the place at the north part of the town, now owned by Capt. E. 
Murdock, Jr.] 

For the west part of the town, we think best to have the school house 
erected on the county road that leads to Royalston, near the mouth of fly 
road, so called. [Just beyond what has since been known as the Caswell 
place, west of Miller's river and where the road comes in from Bullardville.] 

Winchendon, March 17, 1774." 

The Centre already had a school. It was several years before all 
the sections of the town were supplied with school houses. Schools 
were kept in private houses, cooper's shops, and wherever room could 



121 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 

be found. It will be seen that no provision was made for children in 
the Village, Waterville or Spring Village. The simple fact was that 
there were scarcely any inhabitants near the river, between the Mo- 
nomonauk and New Boston ; where we now find not far from four-fifths 
of our scholars. The next year the sum granted was the rent of the 
school lands, besides <£5 given by the county ; in 1776, <£20 Avere de- 
voted to schooling. A new step was taken in 1777. The appropria- 
tion was enlarged to .£30, and a committee was appointed " to see af- 
ter schooling," viz : Dea. Moses Hale, David Goodridge, Daniel Good- 
ridge, Peter Joslin, Ebe'r.- Howe. This was the first school commit- 
tee, as far as can be ascertained. Their duties were mainly those af- 
terwards assigned to the prudential committees chosen by the districts. 
The examination of teachers and schools generally was done by the 
clergy, as officers of the town. The school committee of 1778, were 
Ebenezer Howe, Lt. Joseph Boynton, Lt. Amos Merriam, Dea. Hale, 
John Day, each one belonging to a separate district. This year £100 
were voted for schooling ; of which £7, 6s were to be derived from rent 
of land. Money had already begun to depreciate. On the 9th of 
September, the question came up again in regard to dividing the town 
into districts, but nothing Avas done. In 1779, £400 were granted 
to be employed in schooling. This Avas paper money. It Avas voted, 
" that the school money for this year be equally divid^ittQto six parts. 
The folkiAving committee Avas chosen, viz : Capt. John Soynton, Capt. 
Seth ^aks, Dea. Moses Hale, William Whitney, Abel Wilder and 
James McElwain, to agree on six places to have a school kept in this 
town Avhere it Avill best accommodate the inhabitants." Then chose 
Capt. Joseph Bacon, Dea. Moses Hale, Abel Wilder, Capt. John 
Boynton, Phillips Sweetzer and James McEhvain, " to see that the 
school money is properly laid out." In other words, they Avere the 
prudential committee of the town. This action Avas taken at the March 
meeting. The committee immediately reported in relation to districts, 
as folloAvs, thus shoAving that no school houses had yet been erected. 

" The committee on locating school houses reported that " it appears to us 
that it is most convenient to have the school houses erected in the following 
places, namely, one on the Meeting House Common ; one about 20 rods 
south of the brook which runs across the road between Mr. Phillips Sweet- 
zer and Mr. Jeremiah Stuart, [not far from the trotting park, now No. 10, 



HISTOEY OF WINCHENDON. 125 

or Tallow hill school,] one at the corner of the road between Bill Hancock's 
and David Stoddard's, [now No. 7, and part of No. 8,] one just on the 
causey by Jonathan Stimpson's, [now No. 5, or Estey school house ;] one 
just over the brook on the road from David Goodridgc to Lieut. Joseph 
Boynton, [just northeast of the house of Mr. Jonas Nutting, towards Mr. 
James Murdock's ;] the other on the county road towards Westminster, on 
the east district lot, No. 2." [Now in Gardner.] 

The next vote indicates the cause of still farther delay in building 
the houses, viz : derangement of the currency. It was in these words : 
" Voted, that the town will not take the present currency for the rents 
on those school and ministerial lands wherein the lease mentions law- 
ful money of Great Britain." 

At the annual meeting, March 9, 1780, it was voted " that a school- 
master be hired to keep school nine months in a year*" Also, that 
" the nine months' schooling be equally divided into six parts, to be 
kept in the several places agreed upon by the town." The schools 
were probably kept in private houses. At a meeting, October 13, the 
largest nominal appropriation for schools was made that is upon record, 
viz : ,£2300, worth perhaps $100. At the March meeting in 1781, 
the school money " was equally divided between the several schools." 
The following provision was made : " Six months of writing school in 
each quarter, and the remainder of the money to be laid out in a wo- 
man's school, (if it appears to be the desire of the quarter,) in such 
places as will best accommodate the whole of said squadron, and when 
no woman's school is desired, the whole to be laid out in a man's 
school." It was then voted to build school houses in " the several 
places agreed upon by the town." 

But voting is not building. The subject came up again at the ad- 
journed meeting, March 22, when it was " Voted to have a school 
house built in the centre of the town 20 feet square." The " others to 
be 18 feet square." Then the vote to build school houses was re- 
considered. It was next voted to give " liberty to each squadron or 
school district, or any particular persons, to build school houses on the 
spots agreed upon by the town, and that those persons who build said 
houses, shall hold them as their own property until such time as the 
town shall see fit to purchase them of the proprietors for the town's use." 
After this comes the rather inconsistent vote " to build six school 



126 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 

houses this present year." A committee -was also appointed to see 
to the building of school houses, viz : Samuel Prentice, James McEl- 
wain, Phillips Sweetzer, Edward Withington, Francis Bridge, Joseph 
Bacon. These men represented districts Nos. 1, 7, 10, 3, 5, as they 
have been arranged for many years past. Bacon was in the Gardner 
section. It was then voted " that those squadrons who get the school 
houses done the cheapest, have so much money laid out in schooling 
more than their quota of school money, as to make them equal to the 
highest priced houses." Now it would seem as if the children would 
soon be accommodated with school houses, but " there's many a slip," 
&c. At the meeting on the 3d of April, it was " voted to postpone 
the building of school houses until next year." The burdens of the 
war pressed too heavily upon them to admit their doing anything which 
was not absolutely necessary. The appropriation for schooling was<£40. 
In 1782, March 4, the town granted .£36, or £6 to each squadron, 
for schooling. The term " squadron," seems to have come into use 
in the Revolution ; that is, in its application to districts or sections 
of the town. On the 19th of March, the old vote was renewed to 
" build the school houses the present year," but on the following 11th 
of April, this vote was reconsidered. On the 28th of May, it was 
" voted that the committee chosen last March to provide schooling the 
present year, be a committee to divide the pay of the town into six equal 
parts, both as to polls and estates, for the purpose of building school 
houses. No action was taken the next year, and nothing in the year fol- 
lowing which led to results. The school money was £40. In 1785, 
March 14, the town voted to have a " Grammar school for the year en- 
suing," and granted <£50 for schooling. The same sum was voted next 
year, including the rent of the school land. At the same time, March 7, 
1786, the town " chose a committee of nine to take up and consider 
whether the town will build school houses in the several parts of the 
town as now divided," viz : Benjamin Kidder, Ahimaaz Sherwin, Paul 
Raymond, Samuel Crosby, Esq., Dea. Moses Hale, Samuel Prentice, 
Phillips Sweetzer, Daniel Hubbard and Joseph Boynton. 

SECTIOX 2. — THE FIRST SCIIOOL HOUSES. 

This committee reported on the 3d of April, 1786, " that there be 
no alteration in the school squadrons, nor in the several places hereto- 
fore agreed upon for school houses. Also, we beg leave to report as 



HISTORY OF WTNCHENDON. 127 

our opinion, that it will be best for the town to raise a sum of money 
to be appropriated to the building school houses, in the places already 
agreed on, or in such other place or places as the squadrons more intimate- 
ly concerned agree upon. Also that the money granted, shall be divided 
into five equal parts, and a committee man or men be chosen in each 
squadron to have the oversight of the work, who shall give each one 
as equal a chance as may be in finding materials and doing the work." 
It was then voted " to build six school houses in the town of Winchen- 
don," and " to set the school houses in the several places before ap- 
pointed, except the south part." Three hundred dollars were granted 
for the purpose, and a committee of twelve " to see to the building of 
the school houses." These are their names : Abel Wilder, Benjamin 
Brown, Edward Withington, Joseph Boynton, Phillips Sweetzer, Da- 
vid Poor, Daniel Hubbard, Bill Hancock, William Whitney, Paul Ray- 
mond, Dea. Moses Hale and Isaac Proughty. The houses were erected 
in accordance with these votes, and were located as follows : one in 
the Centre, near the house of John Woodbury, and was of brick ; 
another in the eastern district, near the present site, perhaps on the 
same spot ; anothor in what was known as the old sixth district, near 
the Bigelow place ; another in the southern section, near the Poor mill, 
just west of the stream. This was burned. Then the house was loca- 
ted on the east side of the stream, about a rod east of the John Poor 
house, now occupied by Mr. Carter ; another in the northwest, on the 
road between Levi Parks' and the Royalston road, near the trotting 
park ; and the sixth in the northern part of the town, near Daniel Boyn- 
ton's house, between his house and John Boynton's. 

The appropriation for 1789 was about $200, or MO ; for 1790, 
<£72. At the March meeting, 1791, it was voted that " each district 
shall school out their proportion of money within a year after the grant 
is made, or forfeit it." The sum granted for schools, for several years 
to come was $240 to $450, increasing towards the close of the cen- 
tury. At a meeting November 7, 1791, X150 were granted for build- 
ing and repairing school houses in the town. Chose Moses Hale, John 
Burr and James McElwain, a committee for the purpose. At a meet- 
ing held a fortnight later, this vote was reconsidered, and <£50 grant- 
ed. On the 1st of August, 1792, it was voted to move the school 
house to the east line of the Common. 



128 HISTORY OF WINCHENBON. 

SECTION 3. — SECOND ARRANGEMENT OF DISTRICTS. 

The increase of population made it important, in a few years, to 
increase the number of school houses. Some of the children were 
under the necessity of going long distances to reach their school. New 
wants must be met by new arrangements. Accordingly, at a meeting 
held May 6, 1793, the town " chose a committee of seven persons to 
make a new arrangement of school districts in the town. Chose one 
in each district, and the seventh by ballot. Dea. Samuel Prentice rep- 
resented No. 10 in recent times, that is, the northwest part of the 
town ; Benjamin Wilder, No. 1 ; David Goodridge, No. 3, or the north 
district ; Peter Robinson, No. 6 formerly, near the Bigelow place ; 
Dea. Moses Hale, the east district in recent times, No. 5 ; and Da- 
vid Hubbard, No. 7. William Whitney was chosen by ballot, and acted 
as chairman. At a meeting June 3, the following report was offered 
and accepted : 

" That there be one school house on the Royalston road near the line be- 
tween the Rev. Joseph Brown's land and Mr. Abner Curtice ; [never built,] 
2, that there be one do. on Fitzwilliam road, near the north line of Capt. Paul 
Boynton's land, on the east side of said road, [between the Village and 
Henry Keith's ; 3, one do. on the Bindge road near the line between Lt. 
Joseph Boynton and Mr. James Payson ; 4, one do. on the road leading to 
Ashburnham, on the easterly side of the long causey near Mr. Jere'h Lord's 
land, where it now stands ; 5, one do. on the county road leading through 
Gardner, near where the road comes from Mr. David Smith's into said road, 
where the school house now stands ; 6, one do. on the Templeton road near 
Mr. Eliphalet Goodridge's, where the school house in No. 7, now stands ; [af- 
terwards moved to its present location] 7, one do. near Mr. Peter Russell's, 
where the frame now stands; [near Miss Sylvia Howard's] 8, one do. on the 
road leading from Mr. Jere'h Stuart's to Mr. Francis Goodhue, where the 
school house now stands [near the trotting park.]" 

After heariug the report, it was voted " to build the school houses 
in the several districts agreed upon." A committee of eight was cho- 
sen to draw a plan of the houses, and to propose ways and means to 
build them : viz, Benjamin .Hall, Esq., Capt. Paul Boynton, Lt. Joseph 
Boynton, Dea. Moses Hale, David Smith, Paul Raymond, Jr., Eben- 
ezer Sherwin and Jeremiah Stuart. 

This committee reported on the third of September that " each dis- 
trict build their own school houses. Granted <£243 including £50 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 129 

lately granted to build and repair school houses, said sum to be divided 
to each district, according to their pay. This looked like work, and 
accordingly a building committee was chosen, viz : Phinehas Whitney, 
No. 1 ; Lieut. Joseph Boynton, north district ; Ezra Hyde, the house 
on the Fitzwilliam road ; Jeremiah Stuart, for the northwest ; Jesse 
Ellis, for the southwest ; Daniel Hubbard, No. 7, or the south ; Peter 
Robinson for the old 6th, near the Bigelow place ; and Moses Hale 
for the eastern district. It was then voted that " the middle or centre 
district have liberty to set their school house where they think best." 
It was placed near the present house of Mr. John Woodbury. A com- 
mittee was chosen to view the situation of the southwest district, and 
determine upon the spot on which said house ought to stand. Thomas 
Graton, or Greaton, Jeremiah Stuart and Benjamin Hall were the com- 
mittee, and they reported subsequently in favor of the old site, though 
preferring another if the roads were convenient for it. On the 6th of 
January, 1794, the Assessors were directed to commit the school house 
tax to the collector ; and he was to receive school house committee or- 
ders in discharge of said tax. The assessors and school house com- 
mittee were directed to meet and make a division of the money grant- 
ed to build school houses according to the school districts and their pay, 
and the non-residents' pay to be divided by the assessors and commit- 
tee according to their best discretion. On the 5th of May, it was vo- 
ted " that the school houses should be finished on or before the first 
day of January next." May 28, the north district was allowed to 
" apply the money granted to it for schooling last year to building 
their school house." The southwest district was allowed, by vote 
passed March 7, 1797, " to place its school house where they please 
exclusive of cost to the town." It was probably placed near the south 
side of the Denison pond, near the house of Miss Sylvia Howard. 

SECTION 4. STATE OF EDUCATION. 

The history of education in the town will be arrested at this point, 
for the purpose of bringing forward other parts of the work. This, 
however, is the natural period for a division of the narrative, since the 
opening of the present century was really the beginning of a new era 
in the -cause of popular education. Before turning to a new subject, it 
may be well to take a passage from the manuscript of Dr. Whiton, since 
his recollections embraced a portion of the period under review. He 

9 



130 HISTORY OF WIlfCHENDOff. 

says : " I wish I had been able to ascertain when the first school house 
was built ; it was probably prior to 1770, it being, at my earliest rec- 
ollections, a rough, ricketty affair, of diminutive size, standing a little 
west of Dea. Cutter's present dwelling." This was the northwest cor- 
ner of the Common. The Records give no information in regard to 
the building of this first school-house. It was probably erected before 
the Revolution, though not long previous to that event. School-hous- 
es in those days were generally " rough," and they soon became " rick- 
etty," taking on rapidly the marks of age. They were without paint, 
and so felt all the changes of .the seasons, and yielded to the gnawings 
of the tooth of time. Dr. "W. continues : " In the earliest schools, the 
only books to be found were the old New England Primer, small in size 
but rich in value ; Dilworth's Spelling Rook and the Psalter, including 
Psalms and Proverbs, or the Testament. I do not think the schools 
in Winchendon ever exhibited the primitive simplicity of some places 
where the scholars learned to write on white birch bark for lack of pa- 
per, and were taught in rotation a week each, by all the men who could 
read ; some of whom would cut but a sorry figure as instructors. Schools 
here were a grade above this. About 1790 a decided advancement 
was made in school books. Perry's Spelling Rook superseded Dil- 
worth's ; Pike's Arithmetic was introduced, afterwards superseded by 
Adams' ; Webster's Third Part came into use as a reading book, fol- 
lowed not long after by the American Preceptor. The study of Eng- 
lish Grammar began to be thought of, Alexander's Grammar finding 
its way into the schools. Not the least attention was given to Geog- 
raphy till 1795, when a small abridgement of Morse's Geography began 
to be called for. These books held possession of the schools for many 
years, till better and more modern compilations expelled them. It was 
scarce known that such sciences as Chemistry, Natural Philosophy, 
Rotany, Rhetoric, Physiology or Algebra were in existence ; of their 
introduction into Primary schools, no one at that day dreamed. To 
read, spell and write decently, and acquire enough of Arithmetic for 
the transaction of ordinary business, was all the young aspired to. The 
medical pupils of Dr. Israel Whiton, of whom there was a considerable 
number, aided to furnish a supply of teachers of the winter schools. 
The schools were however, as good as the means and circumstances of 
the town, in those days, allowed ; and if they were not what could be 
wished, still they effected a large amount of good." 



HISTOKY OP WLNCHENDON. 131 



(.'APTER X.— HIGHWAYS AND 
BY-WAYS. 



" Ods whips and spurs ! A road fit for a king 

Winds through these woods :-that is, a king of knaves. 

The farmer's white-oak cart jolts over rocks, 

Logs, stumps ; the springless wagon sinks in mud 

While on the way to mill. The traveler, 

Bewildered by the crooks, and thick-leaved shade, 

Lists to the forest sounds, and dreads the sight 

Of the fierce wild beast, or well-armed foot-pad - 

Perchance of stealthy Indian on his tramp. 

It seems the very hatching place of theft 

And murder.-A change comes o'er, the scenery. 

See the long row of horses and their freight,— 

Men, mothers, children, on their way to church 

The squirrel chirrups on the trees ; the tuneful birds 

-bill all the air with song; a solemn hymn 

Breaks forth from human lips, and all the aisles 

Are vocal with their melody." 

Old Scout. 

Roads while they mark the condition and progress of civilization, fur- 
nish great faculties for general improvement. The history of a town 
no more than of a nation, cannot be complete, without some account of 
its means of inter-communication. Macaulay, who more than any oth- 
er historian, exhibits every phase of a people's life, enters into exceed- 
ingly interesting details concerning the roads of England. We are sur- 
prised to earn that the great lines of travel were in a wretched cond - 

ta£V "* ^ ^^ WM<S the Cr05S roads TOre aI *^ 
impassable. In our own country good roads were very uncommon till 

11 , T , r. rSto0d \ am0 °S u8 > «1 ™ry recently. At first the peoplf 
f lowed Indian trails; then they marked bridle-paths by cntL or 

**£?! TV* 7 T' ° art r ° aCiS ' rem °™° the "4* *£» 
and stumps, and roots, so that oxen, and perhaps steady borses, could 



132 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 

move a load without shaking vehicle and contents to pieces. By de- 
grees came highways on which prudent drivers could venture to travel, 
by using proper vigilance. The next step in progress was the turn- 
pike, built by a corporation, and deriving its support from travelers 
who paid their fare at gates swung across the road at suitable intervals 
—say, six or eight miles apart. These were a great advance, in com- 
parison with the old roads, but in time the people became educated up 
to the point where they were willing to tax themselves to pay for free 
roads that should be better than the turnpikes. Such has been the 
course of things in the eastern States. We read of western towns, 
where one can take his start in an avenue, which soon changes into a 
street, that diminishes to a road, then dwindles into a cart-path, and 
finally vanishes in a squirrel track up a tree. With us avenues come 
last, but well-built roads are demanded by an advancing public senti- 
ment. A county Commissioner remarked a few years since, that a team 
could draw twice as much from any part of the county to the Court 
House in the same time, as the same team could have drawn twenty- 
five years before ; so great had been the improvement in the roads. 

SECTION 1. THE FIRST ROADS. 

The first Proprietors of Ipswich Canada found their way to these 
wilds, by trails and bridle-paths, either through Westminster and what 
"is now Gardner, or through Dorchester Canada, now Ashburnham. 
Lunenburg and Leominster were settled sometime before the towns at 
the west of them, and travelers found their way hither by either route. 
It is probable however, that the northern road was most frequented. 
Ashburnham was settled about the time our fathers came here, and thus 
a way was opened to our eastern border. Before this time, the towns 
in the valley of the Connecticut had become quite populous, and it was 
necessary to have lines of travel from the valley of the Nashua to the 
great river. This explains the vote of the Proprietors in a meeting 
held on the 27th of October, 1737, which was in these words : " That 
there be a road cut from Earlington as near as may be to the Meeting- 
House Lott, at the charge of the Proprietors." For a long time, it 
was impossible to find the location of Earlington. Mr. Hyde, who was 
aged enough to remember several years into the last century, says in 
a note on the 79th page of his History, that he " has not yet discov- 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 133 

ered what place is meant by Earlington » The supposition was that 
it was some^ parish or precinct in one of the lower towns, as Lunen- 
burg, Leominster or Lancaster, through which the travel would nat- 
urally take its course in coming to this region. On inquiring at the 
State House for Earlington, the antiquarians in the Secretary's office 
confessed themselves ignorant of that locality. However, in the Index 
of Plans Grants, &c, it was found that a part of Northfield had been 
granted to Major Joseph Willard, - being a large strip on the north 
and east sides of the town— with the name of Earlington. This dis- 
covery made the design of the Proprietors evident. It was to bring 
the travel between the settlements east and west through this place° 
A far-sighted project, never jet fully realized. In after times a canal 
was surveyed from the Hudson to Boston, through Winchendon Village, 
and still later a railroad, but neither have been transformed from pro- 
jects to facts. It is to be hoped that the time is not far distant when 
one of the great lines of railway travel from the seaboard to the west- 
ern part of the State, and so on to the Great West, will pass through 
our principal Village. But to return from our digression : The next 
meeting of the Proprietors was on the 3d of November, when it was 
voted < that six pounds be paid and allowed out of the treasury to such 
proprietor as shall cut an Horse-way from Earlington road to the Meet- 
ing House Lott." 

Such was the beginning of the road system of this town, the design 
of which was to open ways through the place, rather than to accommo- 
date families, since there were none on the ground. A road was the 
necessary means of bringing them here. On the 13th of February * 
1737-8, it was voted « that there be a Cart Way cut from Dorchester 
Canada Meeting House Lott— which was on the top of the old meeting- 
house hill,— on the nearest and most convenient way that can be found 
from Dorchester Canada road to the centre of the Lotts as laid out in 
the Township of the said Ipswich Canada, and make such bridges and 
causeys as are absolutely necessary for making the way passable." 
lhis road was « cut," and in the course of time became the traveled 
way between Winchendon hill and Ashburnham hill, as it can be traced 
on the map. It was continued from the centre of the town to Royal- 
Bfcnhne on its way to « Earlington." The next year, February 8,- 
* The year in old times began with the month of March. 



134 HISTORY OF WINCHENDOiS". 

as for convenience sake we sjiall fix the dates as if the year began m 
January — it was voted " that Col. Berry be empowered and directed 
to agree with some proper person to clear a road that shall be markt 
out by the Proprietors of Paquaige, from the line of the Township to 
the Town Road." Paquaige or Bayquaige was Athol, and the road 
or path thither was probably by the lands of Enoch Wyman and John 
Raymond, and so on across the plain, and over the river by the Ben- 
jamin Alger place, thence by the Baptist meeting-house towards Athol. 
In 1741, March 18, a committee was empowered to " clear the old way 
into the Township of the trees that are fallen into it." The next year, 
May 19, Col. Thomas Berry, Capt. Edward Eveleth, and Lieut. Will- 
iam Brown were chosen a committee to lay out and clear a road from 
the north part of the Township, by the place where the saw-mill is to 
be erected, to the South Bound." The saw-mill was at the mouth of 
Poor's or Carter's pond, so that the road was to extend from the north 
part of the town, by the centre, and over Raymond hill towards Ten> 
pleton, via Jonesville. At the same time Col. Berry was directed to 
take some " proper method as he shall think best to oblige the Propri- 
etors of Lunenburg and Dorchester Canada to make suitable and con- 
venient ways" to this place. 

Passing an interval of ten years, we find that on the 29th of Janu- 
ary, 1753, Thomas Brown was appointed " to have the oversight of 
mending the hi-way." May 6, a committee was directed " to look out 
the most suitable place to erect a bridge over the river ;" and on the 2d 
of September following, it was voted " that a foot or horse bridge be 
built across the river where the county road runs." This bridge was 
probably over Miller's river, on the road to Royalston, about a mile 
northwest of Waterville. On the 3d of July a committee was chosen 
" to petition the next Sessions of the Peace in the county of Worces- 
ter, in order to establish a hi-way from Lunenburgh through Dorchester 
Canada and Narragansett No. 2, to Ipswich Canada, and so far as Ips- 
wich Canada extends ; and if they fail there, to apply to the General 
Court for the end aforesaid." On the 25th of October a party " came to 
clear the county road." A committee was appointed, March 10, 1756, 
" to lay out a road to the saw-mill," from which it must be concluded 
that the former order had not been carried into effect. October 31, 
1759, a committee was chosen to build a bridge over the road to Roy- 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 135 

alshire, beyond Waterville. So the former vote had remained a dead 
letter. 

In 1762, June 30, a road was accepted " from the northwest corner 
of the burying yard towards the north ; probably extending to the 
Stearns place, where Capt. Levi Stearns now resides. Also a road 
from John Darling's — now Jason Keith's — to Mr. Parson's mill, where 
Goodspeed & Wyman's establishment now stands. Another from Mr. 
Boynton's — in Royalston leg — to the same mill ; and still another from 
the mill to the county road ; that is, to the Centre. This formerly ran 
over the highest part of the hill. In 1763 a road was provided for 
" from the mill road to Temple Town." This was probably a new or- 
der in relation to an old measure. In 1764, a road was laid out from 
William Moifatt's to John Darling's. This road went from Darling's, 
now Jason Keith's, to Royalston line, through what is now Bullardville 
and over Tallow hill, by the house of Moffatt. There was a road also 
sanctioned, leading from the meeting-house to Darling's ; but this was 
merely a union of roads already provided for, and probably built. An- 
other road terminating at Benoni Boynton's ; another from Nathaniel 
Burnam's by Silas Whitney's ; another from Aaron Hodgkins' to the 
county road near Thomas Mansfield's, who lived near the south end of 
the burying ground ; and another from Nathaniel Bixby's to the Meet- 
ing-house. This was the year of the town's organization, and the read- 
er, by tracing the above roads, can ascertain the situ ation of the dif- 
ferent families. 

In 1766, a road was accepted from William MofFatt's, by David 
Poor's to the Royalston line. If ever made, it was discontinued long 
since, as none living remember such a road. The next year — 1767, 
a road was laid out from the meeting house to Westminster, going east 
to the place now occupied by Mr. Winn, and then south by east to 
Westminster. This was the " old road" to Gardner, by William Whit- 
ney's. Several other roads were ordered, but it is difficult to trace 
them from the Records, and a subsequent arrangement makes the 
knowledge of them needless. The same may be said of several roads 
accepted in 1769, and 1770. Indeed, if all the roads which were ac- 
cepted and then discontinued, in these early times, could be secured 
ny any man, he would have an ample farm, provid eel that all the parts 
could be brought into one fielcL The method was this : a man opened 



136 HISTORY OF WINCHENDOff. 

a farm in the midst of woods, and then cut his -way out to the nearest 
neighbor. In time, another neighbor in another direction would sug- 
gest the need of a road ; until finally a through road would accommo- 
date several families, and the old by-roads would be needed no longer. 
In 1771, a committee was chosen to rebuild the long bridge over the 
river between the two Mr. Oaks', who lived on either side — -a mile be- 
yond Waterville. 

There was but little done in the way of opening new, or repairing 
old roads during the period of the Revolution. In 1780, a man was 
allowed <£9 per day for labor on the road. In 1782, committees were 
chosen to repair the road " on the north side of the town," and " to 
build a new bridge over Miller's river by Beeman's mill, a little above 
the old bridge." The committee to build were Abel Wilder, Benja- 
min Brown, John Boynton, Josiah Beeman and Paul Boynton. 

SECTION 2. — WINCHEND0N LOTTERY. 

At the annual meeting March 3, 1783, the following committee, viz : 
Abel Wilder, Esq., Samuel Crosby, Esq., and Levi Nichols, were ap- 
pointed " to petition the General Court for a lottery to build bridges." 
While the committee are getting this permission to raise money by a 
lottery, it will be convenient to follow up, in chronological order, the 
business of road and bridge making. On the 12th of March, eight 
roads were accepted. These were not of general importance, with per- 
haps one exception. Abner Curtice, whose house was not far east 
from the residence of Enoch Wyman, succeeded in getting a road ac- 
cepted which was to start from a point west of the Nichols tavern 7 
where Mr. Cromwell Fisher now lives, about half way to the Benjamin 
place, and proceed thence over the hill, to the house of Mr. Curtice ; 
another road, in continuance of this, was granted, extending to Tyler 
Raymond's. The design probably was to open a road from the north 
part of the town to the south part, and on to Templeton, which should 
avoid the high elevation in the Centre, and several lesser hills on 
the existing road. But the influence of the Centre was too strong ^fco 
allow of the success of this undertaking, and at a meeting about three 
weeks later, it was voted " to reconsider the vote accepting the road 
laid out from Abner Curtice's to the road between Goodhue and Nich- 
ols' tavern." 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDOtf. 137 

Action was taken at the same time to secure the building of the 
bridge, with the expectation that the lottery would provide the funds. 
No appropriation was made, but a committee to build the bridge was 
chosen, as follows : Dea. Hale, Samuel Prentice, David Poor,°Amos 
Merriam and David Goodridge. But the building of this bridge was 
a great enterprise, and the town took uncommon measures to have it 
well done ; therefore a committee of eleven persons was chosen " to 
consult with the above committee as to the plan and form of building 
the bridge, viz: Joseph Boy nton, Abel Wilder, Esq., John Beemis, 
Levi Nichols— who had offered to pay the extra expense if the bridge 
could be moved a little east,* — Timothy Kneeland, Samuel Crosby, 
Esq., Ebe'r'Sherwin, Eliphalet Goodrich, Francis Goodhue, William 
Whitney and Philips Sweetzer, Jr." But this did not satisfy the town, 
and therefore they made choice of still another committee " to give 
instructions to the first committee about laying out the money," viz : 
Abel Wilder, Esq., Samuel Crosby, Esq., and Amos Heywood. This 
last committee, appointed to draft instructions for the committee chosen 
" to build the bridge, and repair the road leading to Charleston, N. 
H., through the town of Winchendon," reported : 

" First, that the Committee be, and they are hereby empowered and di- 
rected to proceed directly to build a bridge over Miller's river, by Capt. 
Newton'sf mills, beginning a little above a ledge of rocks on the northerly 
side of the river, a little east of the old bridge, thence across the river directly, 
meeting the road from Mr. Nichols', where it strikes the road from Mr. Ch'. 
Heywood's to the mills; that the buttments of said bridge be built 18 feet 
wide with stone and earth ; there be a pillar of stones erected in the middle 
under the bridge, leaving a water course- not exceeding 25 feet wide betwixt 
eachbuttment; that the committee be empowered to make any necessary re- 
pairs on the road aforesaid. Provided, that those persons who "labor, or find 
materials for the above work, will take tickets in the first class of the lottery 
granted for the above purpose, or wait till the lottery be drawn for their 
money. ' ' 

*The original bridge over Miller's river by Parsons' mill, was several rods 
below the dam of Goodspeed & Wyman. The first dam was at least halfway 
irom the present dam to the turn of the stream to the right. The first road 
tol°Z e l ? am; thatis ' was the to P of the dam - This accounts for the 
lottery mone "° recordofa brid S e Preceding the bridge built by the 

hv^tn?"^ 1 * PlaCCS Called Parsons '> Beeman's, Hall's, and Knight's mills; and 
oy still other owners. 



138 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 

Previous to 1784, there had been no uniform rule prescribing the 
width of the roads. Some were narrow paths, and others were four 
rods wide. By a vote, on the 15th of March of this year, it was or- 
dered that all roads should be three rods Avide. About the same time, 
it was voted " to build a bridge over Miller's river for Mr. Crooks and 
others." This was by the Benjamin Alger place, on the road to the 
New Boston meeting-house. In the Records of this year, there is 
mention of a county road from Ashburnham to Fitzwilliam, passing 
through the site of this 'Village. It ran by the Hale, Tolman and 
Stearns farms, to the Parsons mill, and thence by the Keith place. 

In 1785, January 13, it was voted " to begin the drawing the lot- 
tery in the meeting house." Dea. Hale and Benjamin TJrown were 
chosen clerks to assist the manager in drawing. Law-makers and peo- 
ple in those days had not learned the pernicious effects of lottery gam- 
bling ; therefore the General Court authorized it, and the people could 
find no place, not even the church, and no persons, not even the dea- 
cons, too good to be engaged in the business. Some money was raised, 
but, as Mr. Hyde well says : " no scheme of taxation could have been 
devised more injurious and extravagant. It was paying under a fascina- 
ting prospect of gain, a much larger sum than the citizens would have 
been obliged to contribute by regular rates. Nor was this all. Some 
will now recollect — this was in 1819 — the time consumed in drawing 
the several classes of this lottery, the idleness and consequent dissipa- 
tion it induced, to say nothing of its natural tendency to beget a love 
of gaming." It must have seemed poor'sport to those who had given 
work or materials for tickets, to draw blanks. Br. Whiton, who was 
born a year later, and who doubtless, heard in subsequent years, the 
comments of his seniors on this affair, says : " three classes were drawn 
in the lottery. Some money, though less than was hoped, was obtained, 
and the bridge was re-built two years afterwards. On the part of our 
Fathers, this lottery affair was a sad mistake ; true, it helped to build 
the bridge, but at a far overbalancing cost of time and morals. It 
attracted idlers and speculators to visit the town, introduced various 
forms of dissipation, and affected injuriously the morals of the people 
for years afterwards." 

SECTION 3. — NEW ROADS AND BRIDGES. 

The project of a county road from Boyalston, through the south 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDOtf. 139 

part of this town to Westminster, was started early, and followed up 
to final.success. As it would be of little use to this town, and would 
tend to divert travel away from the Centre, efforts were made to pre- 
vent the opening of the road. The tax-payers did not relish the idea of 
paying for a road which would injuriously affect their interests. On 
the 14th of March, 1785, after appropriating £120 for highways, the 
town chose Abel Wilder and Samuel Crosby, Esqrs., a committee " to 
oppose a new county road from Koyalston to Westminster." In the 
autumn, November 14, the town accepted the bridge by Newton's 
mills, and on the 24th, voted " to lay out the money arising from the 
third class of the lottery, at the bridge by Mr. Philips Sweetzer's." 
The building committee were Philips Sweetzer, Abner Curtice, and 
Jacob Hale. The bridge was to be built in the following manner : 

" A pair of trussels on each side of the main stream, then westward 20 
feet a butment with stones, then logs and gravel till it comes to a suitable 
place for a water course ; then two butments a suitable width for the same : 
then logs and gravel till it comes near the west side of the interval ; then 
two other butments with stone and a pair of trussels between the same, for 
another water course, and suitable width for two lengths of string pieces." 

This bridge wa^ over Miller's river, near the Oaks place, a mile 
from Waterville, on the Royalston road. It seems that there were 
three water-courses, and many can now remember when the western 
water passage was closed up with^gravel. The stream usually flowed 
in its natural channel, on the east side, but when the floods came, a 
portion of the water ran through the west passage. At a subsequent 
meeting, it was ordered that the " bridge should be all logs instead of 
part stone." When the middle passage was closed, is not recorded. 
The marks of it are still visible. 

On the 7th of March, 1783, a road was accepted " from John Good- 
hue's house by Dr. Manning's, by land of Amos Merriam and Capt. 
Joseph Wilder, to the bridge, then across the river to land of Bar- 
tholomew Stearns, then by Charles Heywood's, then between land of 
Stearns and Hey wood, to the road leading by the mill, from east to 
west." As this description is unintelligible to persons now living, it 
is proper to state that the road extended from some point in the Vil- 
lage, by the Parsons mill, across the river, and on by the houses of Mr. 
Sumner Wyman and Mrs. Connor. 



140 HISTORY OP WINCHEND02T. 

Winchendon had now, in 1788, spanned its principal river at three 
places, viz : in the Village, thus opening travel to the north } at the 
Oaks or Ball place, leading to Royalston ; and at tlie Crooks, or Alger 
place, leading to New Boston and on to Payquaige. Two of these, if 
not all three, were substantial works, and creditable to the enterprise 
of the people in that day of small means, just after the Revolution. 
The first bridges had, without doubt, been plain, rough structures; 
these were a great improvement, as the times demanded. Roads pen- 
etrated to the extremities of the town, though most of them were mere 
bridle, or at best, cart paths. The great roads from Ashburnham to 
Royalston, and from the north line to Templeton, as well as that from 
Winchendon to Fitzwilliam, all radiating from the Common, were prob- 
ably passable for carriages and teams. Not much was done for 
several years following by way of making roads or bridges. The few 
improvements of this nature will be indicated according to the dates. 

October 8, 1787, it was voted " that Asa Ellis and Thomas Wyman 
build a bridge over Priest's brook, and be allowed to take them out 
of their town rate." This bridge was west of the New Boston meet- 
ing house, and near the edge of Royalston. The next year, March 10, 
there was a vote to build a bridge over the river near Mr. Haven'3. 
In 1789, £150, or $500 was raised for highways. * Considering the 
price of labor at the time, this was a liberal appropriation. On the 
2d of March, the town voted " to build a bridge over Miller's river on 
the new county road from Royalston to the north part of Templeton, 
by Mr. Thomas "Wyman's." The committee to build the bridge were 
David Hubbard, Eliphalet Goodridge, and Thornton Barrett. This 
bridge was a little west of Denison pond, where Mr. Patch has resided 
for many years. It appears therefore that the new road was opened 
in spite of opposition and remonstrance. At the same time a road was 
accepted, for Benjamin May, beginning at the State line, (Rindge,) 
and passing over the brook by said May's house, and extending south 
to the county road to Fitzwilliam. Paul Raymond, Jr., obtained an 
alteration of the road extending from " the top of the hill, in Jonas Hey- 
wood's land to the road now trod at Asa Robertson's barn." 

A new attempt was made on the 10th of September to get a road by 
the house of Abner Curtice, with the probable design of making his 
place the centre of the town. 



HISTORY OF WLXCHENDON. 141 

In 1791, May 9, a road -was accepted from George Coffin's to Bill 
Hancock's ; that is, from Columbus C. Alger's by the house of Luke 
Rice. This was never opened to travel. A few other roads were ac- 
cepted not far from this time, but they will be included in a subsequent 
description. 

SECTION 4. — THE BRIDGE EY DR. HALL'S. 

On the fourth of April, 1791, a committee was chosen to repair the 
bridge by Dr. Hall's. Another committee to build the bridge over the 
river by Mr. Goodhue's, had been chosen in the preceding November. 
Both votes referred to the same bridge. May 9, the project of repair- 
ing the bridge by Dr. Ziba Hall's was given up, and a committee con- 
sisting of Benjamin Hall, Esq., Lieut. Joseph Boynton and Mr. Thom- 
as Graton, was chosen " to report what bridge shall be built by Dr. 
Hall's" who reported as below. It is a fair inference that the bridge 
built by the lottery-money wa3 a miserable failure and worthy of its 
origin. The Report is here given in full, with the letting out of the 
works, as it maybe pleasant to carpenters, bridge builders, and others, 
to know how things were done, and at what prices, seventy-five years 
ago. The Report is as follows : 

"REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE. 

The committee propose to have the bridge Plan of said Bridge. 

built after the above plan, and to be sixteen IT "C 

feet wide, and to have the posts so long as to zrr^~ 



have the bridge lay straight from one but- 

rncnt to the other ; the cap pieecs and the 

outside parts to be got sixteen inches square; 

the inside parts to be got 12 inches square ; 

the girts to be got 12 by 8 inches square, and to have the rails framed on to 

the top of the cap pieces." 

This Report was accepted. Then Thomas Graton, Ziba Hall and 
John Burr were chosen a committee " to let out the bridge if they can, 
to advantage, and report" to an adjourned meeting ; which they ac- 
cordingly did on the 8th of September. In the meantime, £20 had 
been granted for the purpose of building the bridge. The Report, 
which was adopted, was as follows : 



142 HISTORY OF WINCHBNDON. 

" List of timber for compleating the bridge. 

ti -i j i. txt (4 cap sticks, 16 by 16, 20 feet long. 
Provided by Mr. j g * 1Q b ^ lg feet , 

David Farrar. } 4 „ 12 ^ ^ lg ^ ^ 

Mr. Joseph f Raving the bridge compleate, 
Heywood. (Logs for 1000 plank delivered at the mill, 
Mr. Haywood Kidder, Ten string sticks, at 3s. each, 

Mr. Nath'l f 4 small posts, 12 by 12, 18 long, 
Bixby. (4 girths, 12 by 12, 20 long. 

Jewett Darling, j pJank . for im fee( . of ljmk 
James Murdock. ( 

James Hall, One oak log for braces, 

Mr. Bart'l'w ( ^ • • • i al r 

o •< Iraming, raising and covenng, nt tor raving, 

„., n,| ( Sawing 2500 feet plank, and moving the same 
(to the bridge, and sawing the braces for do. 



£4, 


13s. 


1, 

0, 


4. 

13. 


1, 


10. 




16. 


1, 


10. 




5. 


5 


, o. 


'' 2 


10. 



£18, 6. 



Service of the committee in lotting out the above business, and 

attending on the same, 1, 10. 



£19,16." 

Thus the committee came four shillings within the amount appro- 
priated. 

The next year it was voted to put extra work on the road leading 
from Dr. Hall's, (by the mill,) to Fitzwilliam ; and a road was accept- 
ed from Amos Edmands' to the old road leading from the Village to 
Ezra Hyde's. In May, it was voted to alter the road from near the 
Boynton place north to the Rindge line. This road was "just west 
of Hananiah Whitney's [Joshua Nutting's] house." 

In 1793, May 6, £30 were granted " to be laid out on the county 
road between Mr. Kidder's and Fitzwilliam. A road for Levi Divoll, 
leading westerly to the road extending from Israel Whitcomb's by the 
poor farm to the meeting house, was accepted. Also, a road for Aaron 
Massey. 

In 1794, £150 was the grant for highways. On the 5th of May, 
a road for Ezra Hyde was accepted, leading from his house down the 
hill, across Miller's river, where the two pail shops now stand, and a 
few rods on to the road that went from Nichols' tavern over Benjamin 
hill, by Dea. Samuel Prentice's to Royalston. 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 143 

In 1795, there was considerable stir about roads, but these Avere 
generally short, and for private convenience. Samuel Brown secured 
the change of direction of one or two roads on the east of his farm, 
near Thomas Greenwood's ; and a road wasJaid out for Mr. Isaac 
Taylor, in the southeast section of the towi™and a slight alteration 
was made in the road at the north end. It was also voted, Septem- 
ber 3, " to mend the north end of the bridge by Goodhue's mill ;" 
and on the 24th, " to repair the bridge over Miller's river by Mr. 
Crooks', to last this fall, and preparations be made for building a bridge 
next summer." 

In 179G, April 4, an important vote was passed, viz : " that the 
town will lay out their roads for the future by a point of compass." 
Up to this time the mode had been on this wise : " from a stake and 

stones by Mr,— 's barn to a pine tree with — chops, — rods ; 

thence to a beech tree with — chops, — rods," and so forth. On 
this account it has been exceedingly difficult for the author to trace 
many of the old roads. 

On the 5th of May, a committee was chosen " to oppose the new 
county road proposed to be laid out in the westerly part." This was 
another project to compel the town to build a road which would divert 
travel and business away from it. A proposal for a road from James 
Raymond's to Dudley Perley's, was negatived. This was renewed 
from time to time, but always defeated ; the fear being probably that 
it would gradually lead the people in the east section, to do business 
in the Village, where were a store and mills. A half century passed 
away, and then a road was opened from the Estey school house by the 
houses of Mr. Raymond's children, on the way to Gardner. 

In 1797, May 2, a road was accepted from Mr. Phinehas Parks' 
to Mr. Amos Eclmand's. This was " cut out" in part, but afterwards 
the vote was reconsidered. Like the Raymond road, it was delayed 
more than half a century, and then laid from Mr. Parks' to Hydeville. 
It was a great point to secure the travel from Fitzwilliam ; therefore 
X50 were granted to improve the road beyond Mr. Kidder's, and on* 
to the State line. 

The county road on the westerly side was put through, notwithstand- 
ing the opposition of the town, and then in 1799, the grand inquest of 
the county found an indictment against the town for not making and 



144 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 

keeping in repair a county road, that was laid out in 1797. Dea. 
Moses Hale was chosen as agent to appear in behalf of the town at 
the next Court of General Sessions of the Peace, at "Worcester, and 
make answer. At the same time, chose Mr. Paul Raymond, Jr., as 
a committee " to hire aafnuch labor as he can for fifty dollars, to be 
laid out to the best advantage on said county road." This was Lieut. 
Paul Raymond, son of Lt. Col. Paul Raymond, and father of the late 
Dea. Paul Raymond. His name appears in connection with roads 
and bridges during the next quarter of a century. The Selectmen 
were charged with repairing or building the bridge over Miller's river 
near Mr. John Day's, but afterwards the matter was put into the hands 
of Lieut. Paul Raymond, l } to repair the old bridge and causey," with 
sixty dollars to pay expenses. Later, $48 dollars were added. 

The expense of opposing the new county road and of neglecting to 
work upon it ran up to quite a sum — viz : 

" Expense of opposingathe road, $60. 
The Presentment cost, 30. 

Expense of the Council, 44.98. 

Edward Bangs, Esq., 34." 

1800, May 28. The town adopted the following mode to be ob- 
served in future in laying out town roads and private ways, viz : " that 
when a new way is to be laid out, the course and distance shall be as- 
certained, unless the whole of said way is laid out on the side of a lot 
or lots." This was at the opening of the new century, and as in the 
course of a year or two, the town had all the old roads which were con- 
sidered necessary, straightened, we have come to a natural point of 
division to our subject. Our travels over the roads of Winchendon, 
on paper, will be resumed in due time. Meanwhile other parts of the 
history will be brought forward to this period. 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDONV 145 



CHAPTER II:- THE TOWN AS A 
PARISH. 



" Hot- Is it a custom ? 

Ham. Ay, marry, is't; 
But to my mind, though I am native here, 
And to the manner born,— it is a custom 
More honored in the breach, than the observance." 

Hamlet. 

PRELIMINARY. 

In former times the towns of this Commonwealth were legal parish- 
es, and the churches were generally in connection with them. Both 
had a distinct existence ; but in some respects acted in unison. The 
church was a purely religious body, made up of voluntary adherents, 
and had the whole matter of determining the principles on which it was 
founded, its by-laws, and methods of discipline, in its own power. It 
received, dismissed, disciplined and excommunicated members without 
being subject to external control. It chose its own officers, whether Pas- 
tors, Deacons, Clerks or Committees, and was amenable to no authori- 
ty save that of Christ, the Head of the Church, though seeking frater- 
nal sympathy and advice through the agency of Ecclesiastical Councils. 
But for the purpose of raising funds to build houses of worship, support 
the ministry, and pay other charges, parishes were formed. As said 
above, by the laws and. usages of this State, the towns acted as parish- 
es in connection with the Congregational churches. In accordance with 
this fact, the town of Winchenclon was a parish, and continued to act in 
that capacity down to about the year 1825, when the union between it 
and the Congregational church was dissolved. Out of this relation it 
comes that quite a portion of the town history pertains to religious af- 
fairs, such as church-building and sustaining the ministry. The eccle- 
siastical history of the town will be given hereafter in the history of each 

10 



146 HISTORY OF WINCHEND02?. 

church within its bounds ; but the history of Winchendon as a parish 
-will receive distinct treatment in this chapter. 

As preliminary and strictly in order, it will be proper to relate what- 
ever was done by the' Proprietors for the establishment of public wor- 
ship in the place. The early settlers, as well as the Proprietors, were 
men who understood the value of religious institutions. Some of them 
— how many is not certainly known — were members of the Church of 
Christ. 

At a Proprietors' meeting hold on the 27th of October, 1737, it was 
voted " that five acres be reserved out of the Lott No. 1, in the South 
Division, for building a meeting-house ; also for a burying yard, and a 
training-field." In February, 1787-8, it was voted that " four acres 
be cleared in the meeting-house lot, in the most convenient place for 
erecting a meeting-house, and to be sowed with herd's-grass ;" and a 
committee of four was chosen to agree when to cleac, in order for the 
location of a meeting-house." About 1752, the frame of a small meet- 
ing-house was raised, not far from the hearse house. This was never 
finished. On July 3d, 1753, Thomas Wilder and Abijah Smith weie 
chosen a committee to prepare stuff in order to build a meeting-house 
next spring. This was not carried out, for on the 24th of October, " the 
first frame erected for a meeting-house was granted to Col. Berry, to 
enable him to build a suitable and convenient room to meet in on the 
Sabbath days for public worship." On the 31st of October " one dol- 
lar was assessed on each and every right, to pay for preaching the win- 
ter coming." Messrs. John Brown and Thomas Jewett were desired 
to provide a suitable person to preach for them. 

In 1759 there were about thirty men in the place, some of whom had 
families, and it is on record, that a Rev. Mr. Harvey was with them as 
a preacher. On the 31st of October the land laid out for a meeting- 
house lot, &c, was accepted. In 1761, September 22, it was voted 
" to raise two dollars on each original right to pay for preaching." The 
committee were ordered to " provide a preacher half the Sabbaths ;" 
and it was voted " to build a meeting-house 30x45, 20 feet posts." The 
next year the people concluded that it was best to select a new spot for 
the meeting-house lot, and training-field, leaving the old spot for a bury- 
ing ground. It was then determined to place the new meeting-house 
on the present central Common. This was erected forthwith, and though 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 147 

never painted or finished, was made fit to be occupied as a place of 
worship.* 

SECTION 1. — MR. STTMPSON's MINISTRY. 

It was voted to settle a minister. This implies that a Church had 
been, or was about to be formed. Mr. Daniel Stimpson was invited to 
settle, and was offered " the minister's right, and sixty pounds of money, 
and sixty pounds salary." On the 17th of November it was 

" Voted that instead of giving ye said Daniel Stimpson sixty pounds salary 
yearly so long us lie shall carry on the ministry, to give him sixty pounds sal- 
ary yearly so long as he shall continue our minister." 

This was intended to secure his support in sickness and old age, even 
if he might not be able " to carry on the ministry." 

Mr. Stimpson was ordained on the 15th of December, 1762, by a 
Council called by the Proprietors. The Church was formed at the time 
of the meeting of the Council, and probably gave Mr. Stimpson a reg- 
ular "call." What particulars there are relating to this transaction, will 
be given in the history of the Church. The committee who acted for 
the Proprietors were Bartholomew Parsons, Richard Day and Samuel 
Titus.f 



* It may interest some readers to sec tlie record of the meetings of the Pro- 
prietors in regard to this subject. Benjamin Goodridge, Abijah Smith, and 
Philip Goodridge were chosen a committee to let out the meeting-house. 
They were empowered to see "thafthe said meeting-house be hewed, framed 
and raised, the outside boarded, shingled, and clapboarded, window sashes 
and glass put up, door heads and doors be made, the lower floor be laid, and 
the-frame be underpinned with convenient stones." This action was taken 
on the 22d of September, 1761, 

A legal meeting of the Proprietors was held at the house of Kichard Dav, 
June 30, 1762, at which Benjamin Goodridge, Kichard Day and Bartholomew 
Parsons, were chosen a committee to "view and stake out a meeting-house 
plat." This committee made the following report : "Laid out Ave acres of 
land for a meeting-house, training field and burying yard, on the northwest 
comer of the lot No. 1, in the south division, beginning at the northwest cor- 
ner bound, running south 48 rods, on line of said lot, then easterly 16 1-2 rods, 
then running northerly a parallel line with the west line 48 rods, and then to 
the place where we began." The Proprietors approved the report, and voted 
to have the house placed on lot No. 1, instead of lot No. 30, which had been 
selected for that purpose. The committee were then directed " to build said 
meeting-house, to raise the house on the plat where they iud<?e most con- 
venient." 

4 

fThe proceedings of the Proprietors in regard to this important subject, 
were as follows, as stated in their Book of Records. " At a legal meeting of 
the Proprietors of Ipswich Canada, assembled and met at the house of Mr. 
Richard Day, innholder at Ipswich Canada, June 30, 1762, 



148 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 

The town was incorporated in 1764, and soon assumed the duties of 
a parish, but it is recorded under date of June 24th, 1707, that the 
Proprietors " voted to pay Rev. Mr. Daniel Stimpson the sum of thirty- 
seven pounds, five shillings and eight, pence." It was manifestly just 
that the Proprietors, being large landholders, should unite with the town 
in supporting the ministry. 

In 1765, September 4, there was a sale of pew ground. 

Mr. Stimpson died of a violent, putrid fever, on the 2Qth of July, 
1768, after a ministry of less than six years. The town met the same 
day and voted " to bear the charges that may arise at the funeral of 
our deceased pastor ;" and '-' that the Bearers bo desired to preach one 
Sabbath day" each. The funeral of Mr. Stimpson was on the 22dj 
the second day after his decease, and was hastened on account of the 
intense heat, and the putrescent nature of his disease. The town paid 
the charges, and it may gratify a reasonable curiosity to read the bill, 
which was as follows : 

"To diners for the Bearers, 3s. ; to providing for three 
Ministers two nights and one day, 9s. ; to providing food, 
Three do. one night, and one day, 6s., 
To diging the grave, 4s. ; to three pair of Gloves, 7s., 2, '2. 
To Brandy, 3s., 7d. 7 lep ; to brown sugar, 6s. ; to Loaf 

Sugar, Is., 6d., 
To two Quarts of Hum, Is., 0, 



£0, 


3, 


0, 


0. 


0, 


9, 


o, 


0. 


0, 


6, 


o, 


0. 


0, 


11, 


2, 


2. 


0, 


11, 


1, 


1. 


0, 


1, 


9, 


0. 



Voted, That the Proprietors will settle, a minister provided the inhabitants 
can rind a man that will settle with them. 

Voted, That the Proprietors will give to Mr. Daniel Stimpson the Minis- 
ter's Right [of land] granted by the Court, and £60 of money as a settlement, 
provided he will settle and perforin the office ol' a gospel minister in the town- 
ship ; and also to give him £60 salary, so long as he shall carry on the work 
of the ministry in said township." 

Nov. 17, " It was put to vote to see if the Proprietors would make any al- 
teration in their former [action] respecting Mr. Daniel Stimpson's salary. 

Voted, That instead of giving the said Daniel Stimpson sixty pounds salary 
so long as he shall carry on the ministry— to give him sixty pounds yearly so 
long as he shall continue our minister in said township. 

Voted, That Mr. Daniel Stimpson be ordained the 15th day of December 
next, aud that the church in Weston, the church in Harvard, the church in 
Lunenburg, and the church in Dorchester Canada, be sent to, to assist in his 
ordination. 

Voted, That Bartholomew Parsons, Richard Day and Samuel Titus, be a 
committee to send letters missive to the above-named churches to assist in 
the ordinatiou of Mr. Daniel Stimpson. in the name of the Proprietors. 

Voted, To allow Richard Day £4 in order to enable him to entertain the 
Council,' and Mr. Stimpson's relations, at his ordination." 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 149 

To several articles from Dr. Taylor's, procured by Mr. Rich- 
ard Pearson, amounting to 2, 17, 11, 1. 
To making a Cofin, 0, G, 0, 0. 



'■ Total, 5,06, 0,0." 

On the 28th of August it was voted " to hire preaching," and then 
more definitely, " to provide preaching twelve Sabbaths with what may 
be given to us." 

SECTION 2. — MR. BROWN'S MINISTRY. 

On the 20th of the following November it was voted " to have preach- 
ingthis winter," and also to- hear Mr. Joseph Brown " four Sabbaths 
more." It is probable that he remained here through the winter, for 
on the 2d day of January, 17G9, the town " made choice of Mr. Joseph 
Brown by a unanimous vote to settle with us in the ministry." They 
then 

Voted and granted fifty-three pounds, six shillings and eight pence for an 
encouragement for him to settle with us in the ministry, to be paid as follow- 
eth, viz : Sixty-sis pounds, thirteen shilling and four pence to be paid at the 
end of six months from his ordination, and the remaining part to he paid at 
the end of twelve months from the first payment ; agreeable to the vote of the 
church. 

Voted to concur with the vote of the Church to give Mr Joseph Brown fif- 
ty-throo pounds, six shillings and eight pence, as salary annually for the space 
of five years, and at the expiration of the abovesaid term of five years, to give 
Mr. Joseph Brown sixty pounds annually, until the town of Winchendon in- 
creaseth to the No. of one hundred families, and then sixty-six pound, thir- 
teen shilling, and four pence annually so long as he shall continue to be our 
minister." 

Besides this offer, the Proprietors had granted, after Mr. Stimpson's 
death, two additional lots of land to aid in the settlement of another min- 
ister. In addition, on the 6th of March, 1769, liberty was granted for 
Mr. Joseph Brown " to be absent two Sabbaths in a year annually." 
At the same time it was voted " to seat the Meeting-house agreeable to 
the estates both real and personal, having some reference to age." 

The former of these last two votes proves that the custom of giving 
ministers two or more Sabbaths yearly,'is not' of recent origin, as many 
suppose. The last vote reminds us of an age that has forever passed 
away. The custom of" seating" the meeting-house was a relic of the 
times when people made much of rank and distinction. It was brought 
Tom the old country and lingered here nearly two hundred years after 



150 HISTORY OF WINCHENDOK. 

the settlement of Boston. In former times the students hi College were 
not arranged alphabetically, but their names -were printed according to 
the rank in life of their fathers. In " seating" the meeting-houses in 
towns where there were people of different classes, regard was had to 
their relative position. Governors were in the first rank, as a matter 
of course. Then came the Iieut. Governor, Counsellors, Senators, Rep- 
resentatives, military officers of high rank, Clergymen, Esquires, Gen- 
tlemen, Yeomen, &c. In a place like Winchendon, ouch a mode of 
grading was scarcely possible, and therefore the people took the less in- 
vidious plan of seating " by estates both real and personal, having some 
reference to age." In a congregation of farmers it was known who had 
the largest property, but it would be intolerable to have one set above 
another on account of supposed superior worth. Not personal quali- 
fies, but the accident of property, was therefore wisely selected as the 
title to a " higher seat in the synagogue." But this was not all. The 
people of those times respected gray hairs, and therefore " some refer- 
ence to age" was observed. 

On the 20th of March, the town voted to have the ordination on the 
24th of the ensuing May, and granted <£8, 16, to enable Mr. Silas Whit- 
ney to entertain the Council for Mr. Brown's ordination. The ordina- 
tion took place accordingly, and the new minister was happily settled, 
among a united people, and with a comfortable provision for his sup- 
port. " Numerous accessions" says Dr. Whiton, "-of settlers in the 
three or four preceding years had increased the number of families, it 
is estimated, to nearly sixty, and the population to about three hundred 
and fifty, a number which, accustomed as was that generation to a con- 
stant and universal attendance on public worship, would furnish a con- 
gregation by no means inconsiderable. For many years Mr. Brown's 
connection with the people was harmonious and acceptable to both 
parties." 

SECTION 3. FIRST MEETING HOUSE. 

In 1771 a proposition to widen the alleys; in the meeting-house, and 
to paint the pulpit was negatived. The Minister being now settled, and 
the people being united in one mode of worship, there is nothing left for, 
history in this line, for several years. A few words may be devoted to 
the first meeting-house. As stated already, a frame was erected near 
the burying-yard, but it was never enclosed and fitted for use. The 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDOft. 



151 



first house of worship was put up on the present Common, near the south- 
east corner, just north of the road that passes between the site and the 
house of Mr. Benjamin Wilder. This house was 80 bj 45 feet, and 
the posts were twenty feet high. The house was never painted outside 
nor inside; not even the pulpit; neither was it ceiled or 'plastered. 
Clapboards and shingles kept out the cold in winter to such a degree 
that the people, with foot-stoves, could continue to live through the morn- 
ing service. They then adjourned to the tavern, on the southeast cor- 
ner of the Common, across the road, or to private houses, where a good 
fire, some hot drink, and a.luncheon, fortified them for the rigors of the 
afternoon meeting. The floor was covered with benches where the wor- 
shippers sat as they were " seated" by a committee annually chosen for 
that purpose. There is no picture of the Meeting-house in existence ; 
probably never was ; but from the recollections of aged people the sketch 
below has been made by Mr. Robert Hill, and they agree that it gives 




a tolerably correct notion of the external appearance of the first sanctu- 
ary ever used in Winchendon, for the worship of Almighty God. 

In 1775, at the March meeting, .£60 was raised for the Minister, 
according to the agreement when he was settled.' Three years later, 
measures were taken to make up for him the depreciation of paper. 
Thus on the 23d of January, 1778, a committee of five, via : Dea. 



' Vo'l HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 

Muses Hale, Jacob Hale, John Boynton, Abel Wilder and James Cool- 
3dge, — was chosen " to draw subscription papers, and see what the peo- 
ple will give to Mr. Brown in consideration of the high prices on the 
necessaries of life." It would seem that the subscription failed, since 
at an adjourned meeting, when the report of the committee was made, 
a vote was passed " to make some compensation to Mr. Brown by way 
of a tax." The town granted X50.- The next year the town voted 
"to pay Mr. Brown, X53, 6, 8, in produce of the farm, labor, &c, 
at the prices they generally bore in the year 1774 ; Rye at 4s. per 
bushel, and labor in hay-time at 2s., 8, per day ; or so much money as 
will purchase so much produce and labor." This was going back to the 
original salary nearly, but when we consider the "hard times," it was 
a liberal arrangement. 

In 1783, February 10, the town took action on an article in the war- 
rant " to see if the town will vote to exempt those persons from paying 
taxes to the settled minister in the town who attend Baptist or Friends' 
meeting." The article was passed over ; but at the March meeting, 
the question came up again, when it was voted to submit the matter to 
the judgment of the assessors. One of these petitioners was Mr. Jer- 
emiah Stuart. This town was always firm in its adherence to the prin- 
ciples of civil and religious freedom. 

SECTION 4. THE SECOND MEETING HOUSE. 

1790,. March" 1. "Will the town build a new meeting-house ? Nay. 
But a new house must be had, and so the town voted, on the 10th of 
September, " to build a new meeting-house in this town." They chose 
a committee of five " to propose ways and means for said house," viz : 
Abel "Wilder, Esq., Dea. Moses Hale, Mr. Thomas Graton, Benjamin 
Hall, Esq., and Dea. Samuel Prentice. The committee were to report 
to the town at an adjourned meeting. This meeting was held October 
4, when the report was probably presented. At all events, the town 
took definite action on the subject ; and as the enterprise was the oc- 
casion of much feeling and excitement for several years, and further- 
more as the enlarged church-accommodation furnished by the new house 
was a source of vast intellectual, moral, social and religious benefit to 
the inhabitants, the proceedings in relation to its erection will be given 



HISTORY OP WINCHEtfDON. 153 

at considerable length. ■ At the meeting on the 4th of October, the 
following votes were passed: 

" Voted, to set the new meeting-house on the meeting-house Common. 

Voted, That said house be 60 feet in length, 50 feet in width, 27 feet posts, 
and a porch at each end of the house 10 feet on the house, 14 feet deep. 

Voted 54 pews on the lower floor, and 24 in the galleries, and 3 seats on 
each side below, and 3 iu the galleries. 

Voted, That there be 20 windows, 40 squares in each window, below,' and 
21, 35 squares in each, in the galleries; the pulpit and gable end windows 
excepted. 

Voted, That the pews be sold at public vendue to the inhabitants, to pro- 
cure materials and workmen for building the house : That the purchasers of 
pews give security for the same to the acceptance of the committee. 

Voted, That the materials be divided into small lots, and let out to •those 
persons who will procure the same the cheapest. 

Voted, That the frame be raised in the fore part of the season in the year 
1792. 

Voted, That the materials for building be delivered at such time and place, 
as the committee for building the meeting-house shall direct. 

Voted, To choose a committee to see to the building of said house. 

Voted, The committee to consist of three persons. 

Voted, and chose Abel Wilder, Esq., Mr. Thomas Graton and Benjamin 
Hall, Esq., for the above committee." 

Another meeting was held, November 1, when farther action' was 
taken as given below. 

" Voted To reserve one pew in said house for a ministerial pew. 

Voted, Pew west of the pulpit, next to it, for a ministerial pew. 

Voted, To choose a committee of three persons to pitch upon a spot to set 
the new meeting-house upon. 

Voted and chose Mr. James Steel, Dea. Moses Halo, and Doct. ZibaHall 
for the above committee. 

Voted, To set the south side cf the new meeting-house 30 feet north of the 
north side of the old meeting-house. 

Voted, To accept of the plan of said house that the committee has drafted 
and laid before the town. 

Voted, and accepted the conditions of the sale of the pews the committee 
has proposed." ' 

The sale of the pews as they were arranged in the draft or plan then 
:ook place, and it cannot fail to be interesting to all the children and 



154 



HISTORY OF WIXCHEXDON. 



descendants of. the purchasers to read the record of the sale. It is in 
these words : 

" 1790, Nov. 1. At a veridue held for the sale of the pews in the meet- 
ing-house voted to he built at a meeting held September 10, 1790, at the 
meetingdiouse in Winchendon aforesaid, the pews were sold as follows, viz: 
No. 



1, 


struck off to C apt. Daniel Hubbard, 




for forty 


dollars. 


2, 


( c 


Abner Curtice, 




" seventy-one 


" 


3i 


; c 


Dea. Moses Hale, 




" forty-one 


(< 


4, 


1 1 


" " 




" thirty-nine 


it 


5, 


" 


Benjamin Hall, Esq., 




" forty 


<i 


6, 


( £ 


Dr. Ziba Hall, 




" forty 


" 


7, 


<< 


Dea. Levi Moor, 




" thirty eight 


11 


8, 


« C 


Lieut. Jacob B. Woodb 


ury, 


" thirty-seven 


K 


9, 


I i 


Samuel Crosby, Esq., 




" forty 


11 


10, 


a 


Bemsly Lord, 




" thirty-nine 


c & 


11, 


t i 


David Stoddard, 




" forty 


11 


12, 


it 


Jacob Hale, 




" thirty-sis 


<( 


13, 


" 


Samuel Crosby, Esq., 




" thirty-nine 


tt 


14, 


c < 


Benjamin Brown, 




" forty 


a 


15, 


f t 


Capt. Joseph Wilder 




C( CI 


it 


16, 


(( 


James Hall, 




(< It 


< 1 


17, 


(( 


Samuel Brown, 




" " 


11 


18, 


CC 


Amos Hale, 




" thirty -nine 


<( 


19, 


CC 


James Stoddard, 


- 


" forty 


" 


20, 


it 


Lieut. David Poor, 




it a 


i c 


21, 


It 


Roger Bigelow, 




" thirty-eight 


11 


22 


tt 


Abel Jones, 




" thirty-six 


(( 


23; 


tt 


John Goodhue, 




" thirty-seven 


(( 


24, 


ft 


Jesse Ellis, 




" thirty-eight 


it 


25, 


a 


Paul Raymond, Jr., 




" forty 


tt 


26, 


a 


Eliphalet Goodridge, 




" thirty-nine 


ft 


27, 


i t 


David Smith and 












Thomas Greenwoi 


od, 


<[ 11 


1 1 


28, 


It 


James McElwain, 




" forty-one 


1 1 


29, 


n 


Joseph Sweetzer, 




11 .1 


" 


30, 


it 


Assio-ned by the town for a Ministerial pew. 




31, 


Struck off to William Whitney. 




for sixty-two 1 


lollars. 


32, 


tt 


Joseph Sweetzer, 




" forty-one 


<t 


33, 


n 


Dea. Moses Hale, 




" forty-seven 


1 1 


34, 


" 


Rev. Mr. Brown, 




" forty-five 


it 


35, 


" 


Thomas Graton, 




" thirty-eight 


,< 


36, 


" 


Francis Goodhue and 












Francis Goodhue, 


Jr., 


" thirty-seven 


it 


0^ 

01 , 


n 


Ensign Adonijah Bixby, 
Amos Heywood, 


and 


" thirty-five 


tt 


38, 


(( 


James Payson. 




" forty 


1 1 


39, 


St 


Dea. Samuel Prentice an 


a 










Samuel Prentice, 


Jr., 


n tt 


it 


40, 


(( 


Jeremiah Lord, 




" thirty-nine 


tt 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 



155 



No. 



41, 

42, 

43, 

44, 

45, 

4G, 

47, 

48, 

49, 

50, 

51, 

52, 

53, 

54, 



struck off to Lieut.. John Burr, 
Bill Hancock, 
Daniel Goodridge, 
Dr. Israel Whiton, 
Lieut. Joseph Boynfon, 
Abel Wilder, 
Desire Tolman, 
Abner Curtice, Jr., 
Benjamin Hall, Esq., 
Isaac Noyes, 
Josiah Bruce, 
Daniel Goodridge, 
Capt. Paul Boynton, 
Amos Merriam, 



for thirty-nine 
" thirty-eight 
" forty-two 


" forty-nine 

" fifty 
it (> 


" forty 
" thirty-six 

11 X 


" thirty-eight 



dollars. 



" forty 



x 1, 
1 2, 
' 3. 
1 4, 
5, 
6, 

7, 

' 8, 

9, 

10, 

11, 

12, 

13, 

14, 

15, 

16, 

17, 

18. 

19, 

20, 

21, 

22, 

2B, 

24, 



THE GALLERY PEWS. 

Dea. Moses Hale, 
Abel Wilder, Jr., 
Samuel P. Goodridge, 
George Coffin, 
Lemuel Hey wood, 
Thomas Graton and 

Francis Goodhue, Jr., 
Samuel Crosby, Esq., 
Dea. Moses Halo, 
Abel Brown, 
Thomas Wyman, 
Ziba Hall and Thomas Wilder, 
Dea. Moses Hale, 
Joseph Sweetzer, 
Dea. Moses Hale, 
Levi Divoll, 
John Burr, 
Dea. Moses Hale, 
Josiah Bruce, 
Jedediah Tuttle, 
Daniel Day, 
Joseph Sweetzer, 



twenty-four 
seventeen 
sixteen 
fifteen 



fourteen 

twelve 

twenty-two 

thirteen 

fifteen 

fifteen 

sixteen 



" twelve " 

" fifteen " 

" fourteen " 

" seventeen " 

" thirteen «' 

" fourteen " 

" thirteen " 

" fourteen " 

" twenty-one " 

" thirteen " 

" nineteen " 
Abel Wilder, ^ 
Thomas Graton, y Committee. 
Benjamin Hall, ) 

Voted to establish ana confirm the pews mentioned in the foregoing report, 
to the purchasers whose names are thereunto annexed, and to their heirs and 
assigns forever," 



Jeremiah Stuart, Jr., 
Benjamin Hall, Esq., 



• o niSTORY OP WTNCHEND0N. 

The following were fixed as the " Conditions of Sale." 

" Each person who bids off a pew must give security for the sum the pew 
sells for, with sufficient bondsmen ; two shillings and six pence on the pound 
to be paid in cash on or before the first of November, 1791 ; the remainder 
to be paid in materials or in pay of the workmen, provided the materials are 
procured and delivered agreeable to the vote of the town; the securityto be 
given immediately upon the sale ; or fifteen shillings paid down in cash, or a 
note on demand as earnest, and the securities to be given on a day the com- 
mittee shall appoint for the remainder. The above conditions was accepted 
by the town." 

" Voted and accepted of the form of the note the committee laid before the 
town — the purchasers of pews .have signed— which form is as follows: 

Winciiendo^, November first, 1700. 
For value received, wo, the subscribers, jointly and severally promise the 
inhabitants of the town of Winchendon, to pay them — — pounds in materi- 
als for building a meeting-house, or in pay of the workmen to be on demand 
after ten months from the date hereof. Witness our hands." 

On the 29th of November, a meeting was held, when the town "voted 
and accepted the conditions of sale the committee has draughted for 
the materials." They also appointed Dca. Moses Hale for the " ven- 
due master," and Voted that the " posts of said meeting-house be 28 
feet in length; and that there be 40 squares of glass in each window." 
On the 20th of December, it was voted "to have banisters in the pews," 
and that " the committee shall procure the glass." 

On the 9th of May, 1791, the town accepted and approved the sale 
of the pews made in the preceding November. At a meeting, Novem- 
ber 7, the town voted " to agree with some person or persons to make 
provision for the raisers ta raise the meeting-house," and granted <£80 
to pay the expense. Then voted "that the committee for building the 
house let out to the lowest bidder the provision for the raising the new 
meeting-house." 

LOCATION OP THE U.OUSE. 

The town now encountered a difficulty which caused great division 
and heart-burning. The question of location had been settled once, 
but a large party were dissatisfied, and made strenuous opposition. 
Those who lived south of the old spot wore unwilling to place the new 
house -rerv far north of the old -site,- while those living north contended 



HISTORY.. OF WINCHENBON. - 157' 

for a spot nearer the northern end of the 'Common. The contest, broke 
out at a meeting on the 21st of November, W91, when it was 

"Voted to ro-consider a vote passed in a former meeting, November 1, 
1790, which was to set the south side of the new meeting-house 30 feet north 
of the north side of the old meeting-house. Yeas, 47 ; nays, 25. 

Voted to choose a committee of seven persons to pitch upon a spot to set 
the meeting-house upon, and report at the adjournmenc of this meeting. 

Voted and chose Abel Wilder, Esq., Dea. Samuel Prentice, Doct. Ziba . 
Hall, Lieut. John Burr, Mr. Thomas Graton, Mr. James Steel, and Samuel 
Crosby, Esq., for the above committee." 

Dea. Hale, indignant at this vote, resigned being moderator, and 
Dea. Samuel Prentice was chosen moderator in his stead. The meet- 
ing was adjourned to Thursday, when the town then met, and " voted 
and accepted of the report of the committee," which is as follows, viz : 

" WiNcnEND0iv,Nov. 24, 1791. . 
The committee appointed on the 21 of this instant, to view and report the 
most convenient spot to build a meeting-house upon, have attended that ser- 
vice, and a majority of that committee agree that the meeting-house be set 
one hundred and twenty feet south of Luther Sdmson's;* house, and thirty- 
one feet east of the stone wall by Mr. Brown's garden. 
By order of the committee, 

Abel Wilder, Chairman,''' 

On the 26th of December, the town met again, and voted u to choose 
a committee of six persons to review and pitch upon a spot to set the 
new meeting-house, and report at the adjournment of this meeting." 
The following are the names of the committee, viz : Abel Wilder, Esq., 
Dea. Moses Hale, Samuel Crosby, Esq., Mr. William Whitney, Ben- 
jamin Hall, Esq., and Dea. Samuel Prentice. 

After several unimportant meetings, the town met according to ad- 
journment, on the third of May, 1792, and voted to adjourn the meet- 
ing for half an hour for the purpose of viewing the northerly part of 
the Common, in order to sec if the town could agree, unanimously, 
upon a spot of ground to set the new meeting-house upon. After taking 
a view, the town met again ; and after some debate, it was tried by a 
vote to see if the town would re-consider the vote passed at a former 
'meeting respecting placing the meeting-house in the northerly part of 



*Stimson's house was at the north end. 



105 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 

the Common. The motion failed. Then it was voted that the select- 
men should purchase a " barrel of West India rum, and a quantity of 
sugar sufficient to make it into toddy, and that it be expended partly 
upon the men that assist the day preceding the day set for raising the 
meeting-house, in laying the timber in order for raising ; and the 
remaining part upon the people that attend as spectators at the raising, 
and that the selectmen see that it is properly dealt out." A vote Avas 
then passed to allow Ensign David Rice a " sum of money over and 
above what he was heretofore agreed with to provide for those persons 
who raise the meeting-house ; the sum to be determined by the rise of 
West India articles since said Rice agreed to make provision for the 
raising." 

It was then voted that the committee " for building said house, shall 
not receive any stuff for said house of those persons who agreed to pro- 
cure it, after the 20th day of May current, and that the committee 
purchase seasoned stuff after that time in the best manner they can, if 
any is wanted." 

At an adjourned meeting held on the 7th of May, the contest re- 
specting the location of the house was renewed, and after some debate, 
it was put " to see if the town would agree to set the meeting-house 
three rods southerly from the place lately agreed upon to build said 
house." The town voted to re-consider their vote for placing the 
house one hundred and twenty feet from the north side of the Com- 
mon, and then voted to set the north side of the house one hundred 
and seventy feet from the north line of the Common ; and " that the 
east end of said house should stand nearly on a ridge that was made 
by the east side of the field." The following citations give signs of 
returning harmony. 

' ' May 3 1 . The town met according to adjournment, and voted to choose 
a committee of three persons to use their endeavors to settle matters of diffi- 
culty respecting the meeting-house. Messrs. Thomas Graton, Amos Hey- 
wood, and James Steel were chosen for said purpose. Then the meeting was 
adjourned for one hour. The town met according to adjournment, and the 
committee reported verbally that proposals were made for accommodation." 

The meeting adjourned to June 15, but the house was raised before 
that date, as appears by the following. 

June 15th. The town met according to adjournment, and after some de- 



niSTORY OF winchendon. 159 

bate, voted that the committee for building the meeting-house purchase such 
articles as are necessary to. finish said house, in the best way and manner they 
can, and go on with the work as soon as may be with convenience. Then voted 
that the time for bringing in materials for finishing said house, except clear 
boards for inside work not seasoned, bo lengthened out until the twenty-fifth 
of June current ; boards for lathing to be received until July tenth, of those 
persons who agreed to find materials. ' 

The town voted that the committee have leave to alter the plan of the pul- 
pit stairs as they shall think will be best ; and that Ensign David Bice be 
allowed for entertaining eleven men on the day the meeting house was raised 
over and above the 100 men he agreed to provide for, and that he be allowed 
in the same proportion for the eleven men as for the one hundred • and aI«o 
that he be allowed 10s, 8d, for what he found for those persons who'belonged 
out of town, and assisted the .second day in raising the roof of the meetine 
house." ° 

_ The following citations show the progress of the work, and the an- 
cient way of clong tilings. 

'* September 5. The town met according to adjournment, and -ranted the 
sum of one hundred and fifty pounds in addition to the money raised by the 
sale of pew ground, to defray the charge of building the meeting house in said 
town. Adjourned to October 24th, and then to the 29th, when it was voted 
that the £150 granted the fifth day of September last, be paid into the treas- 
ury on or before the first day of January next. Adjourned to the first Mon- 
day m September," when the town met and made choice of Lieut. John Burr 
a committee-man for finishing the meeting-house in the room of the Hon Abel 
Wilder,* deceased." Dec. 17, "Met according to adjournment, and voted 
ha the Treasurer be directed to receive the meeting-house committee orders 
to the amount of £150. Then voted to sell the refuse boards, stone d™ 
)Id casks &c, that belong to the town that were left at the new meetinghouse 
it public vendue. Then voted that the first day of January, 1793 °bc the 
lay to dedicate the new meeting-house. Then voted that the three deacons 
date , Prentice and Moor, be a committee to inform the Rev. Joseph Brown 
oij the proceedings of the town respecting dismissing the old meetinghouse 
rad dedicating the new one. Adjourned to the last day of 'the year" -it 1" 
) clock on the spot of ground where the old meeting-house stood, and adj- 
ourned the meeting into Mr. McElwain's east room, and then met there and 
tdjourned for half an hour-for the purpose of viewing the new meeting-house 
~ lhe D mct a S ai » and voted to accept the new meeting-house. 
*His decease occurred on the first day of November. 



160 • HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 

Then, at the request of various parties, certain pews were transferred. Then 
voted that two pews in the gallery that were struck off to Dea. Moses Hale, 
viz : No. 17 and No. 8, be ; transferred to Lieut. John Burr; and that there 
upon all matters of difficulty heretofore subsisting between the town and gaid 
Hale, and any individuals in the town concerning the new meeting-house 
shall subside, upon condition that the persons who have purchased pews is 
said house, pay for the same in a reasonable time. 

Then voted that the singers have the whole of the front gallery on the daj 
set for the dedication of said house, and after that to have one-half the front 
gallery — both men's and women's seats — next the alley, taking half of each 
seat until the further order of the town." 

Going back a little in date, we will finish up the business of dispos- 
ing of the old meeting-house, and wharfing the new one. In 1792, 
September 5, the town voted to build a wall and wharf round the new 
meeting-house, by a tax. A grant of one hundred pounds was made 
to defray the charge thereof, which was to be worked out at the follow- 
ing rates, viz : " 4d. an hour for man's labor, 2 l-2d. an hour for a yoke 
of oxen ; 1 l-2d. per hour for a cart ; 4 l-2d. an hour for a plow that 
will hold ten oxen." It was voted at the same time, to purchase " four 
stone drags, so called, for the use of the town." On the 24th of Sep- 
tember, a committee waa raised, and then a vote was passed, " that the 
aforesaid committee may plow the highest part of the Common, and dig 
stone thereon as they think proper, and that they may take away a. 
much, of the underpinning of the old meeting-house as they can and r a, 
injure the house ; the work to be begun on the 8th day, and finis) A 
on the 27th day of .October." October 29, it was voted to sell th( old 
meeting-house, at public vendue, in lots. On the 2d of November it 
was voted " that those persons who purchase the old meeting-house, 
may take it down as soon as the new one is fit to meet in ;" and the 
committee were authorized to sell it -for what any one would give, at 
private sale. 

At a meeting bold on the 17th of December, it was voted to " give 
the Rev. Joseph Brown the pulpit, the ministerial pew, the pulpit 
stairs, the deacons scat and. the canopy." The committee for report- 
ing the conditions of sale of the old meeting-house, — viz : Dea. Sam- 
uel Prentice, Mr. Thomas Graton and Lieut. Joseph Boynton, — Avere 
empowered to sell the same ; Dea. Moses Hale to be vendue master, 
and " the vendue to begin at one quarter of an hour past one o'clock, 




"test Go&SFeg&ttoia&Il (S&weft, 
l?St B 



HISTORY OP WINCHENDON. 161 

this afternoon." After the sale, the meeting adjourned to December 
24, when at 2 o'clock it met in Mr. McElwain's east room, and voted 
" that the whole of the proceeds of the sale of the old meeting-house, 
together with the refuse stuff of the new meeting-house, and all the ma- 
terial belonging to the town that was sold at public vendue, be appro- 
priated to the payment of the co3t of building the new meeting-house." 
It was then voted to " sell the surface of the earth under the old meet- 
ing-house to the highest bidder, the purchaser to take away such a quan- 
tity as he pleased at any time before the first day of May next." It 
was sold to James McElwain " for 9 shillings," and he doubtless col- 
lected all the saltpetre from it that his methods allowed. Adjourned 
to the last day of 1792, when the " old meeting-house meeting" was 
dissolved. 

A brief extract from the papers of Dr. Whiton, will appropriately 
close the account of the locating and dedicating the new meeting-house. 
" The whole affair was an illustration of the tenacity with which men 
will cling to a very trifling interest when their feelings become aroused. 
On the 21th and 25th of May the frame was raised. Then, or very 
soon after, one of the workmen, a Mr. French of Eindge, fell from the 
roof, broke several bones, was dangerously injured, but finally recovered. 
The house, thought at the time, an elegant and tasteful edifice, with no 
steeple, but porches at the ends, was dedicated the first day of the next 
January, the Rev. Mr. Brown, the pastor, preaching the dedication ser- 
mon. I well remember my boyish impressions, that the painting and 
ornamental work of the pulpit, and of the old-fashioned appendage to 
it, the canopy, over the head of the minister, could not fall much short 
of the glory of Solomon's Temple." The author well remembers the 
interior of that ancient house as it appeared to his half-bewildered eyes, 
on the first Sabbath of May, 1813, when he walked up the middle aisle, 
and cork-screwed his way up the pulpit stairs. Nothing but the solem- 
nity of the occasion could have repressed the smile that such architec- 
ture, painting and ornamentation was fitted to excite ! 

The house was now erected and dedicated. It was a well-built house, 
made of the best materials, and large enough to seat about six hundred 
people, old and young. A few items of business more will complete the 
record. They are as follows : 

1793, March 6, " Voted and directed the meeting-house committee to pur- 

11 



162 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 

chase hooks and staples to hook down all the meeting-house windows that have 
weights to them. Also directed the said committee to line the inside of the ban- 
isters [balusters] of the pulpit with boards and paint the outside green." Ad- 
journed to the first Monday in April, and then Voted " that the committee for 
building the meeting-house, be requested to lay before the town at the May 
meeting, a statement of the sums they have received by the sale of the pews ; 
also by a sum raised by the sale of the old meeting-house and ground under said 
old house ; and also by the sale of all the refuse stuff which was left of the new 
meeting-house : and also by way of a tax, and any other way by which they 
have received money. And also that said committee be requested to lay be- 
fore the town a statement of what has been expended in the building of said 
house." 

" After several meetings and adjournments, the town met on the 6th of Jan- 
uary, 1794, and directed the meeting-house committee to mend or make the 
gallery doors according to their direction." 

The meeting was then adjourned to March 3 ; then to April 7 ; then to May 
5 ; then to May 28, when Mr. Amos Hey wood was chosen Moderator " pro- 
temporary ;" then to September 3, when it was voted that the Selectmen give 
the meeting-house committee orders to draw nine pounds out of the town treas- 
ury, to enable them to make a final settlement with the town, they to be ac- 
countable to the town for the same at their settlement. Then adjourned to No- 
vember 3, and then to November 21, 1794, when the town voted and dis- 
solved the " meeting-house meeting." 

At a meeting of the town on the 21st of November, 17 94, " called in part, 
for the purpose of settling with the meeting-house committee, Voted and ac- 
cepted of the meeting-house committee account, which is as follows : 
COMMITTEE'S ACCOUNT. 

" Cost of the Meeting House, £889, 10s., 9d. 

Committee Service, £57, 14s., 6d. — £947, 5s., 3d. 

Received of pew money, £766, 4, 0. 

Old Meeting House, £28, 2, 1. 

Refuse Stuff, £4, 10, 7. 

Tax, £150, 0, 0.— £948, 16, 8. 

The above account is the report of the committee appointed to build the 

meeting-house. 

Tiios. Gbaton, \ Committee for build- 
Benjamin Hall,) ing said house." 
Samuel Prentice, Moderator. 
A true copy, Attest, Moses Hale, Town Clerk." 

To this account may properly be appended the following item from 
the Records, showing as it does the idiosyncrasy of an individual, and 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 163 

proving the general unison of religious sentiment in the town up to this 
time. " Jeremiah Stuart's part of the tax for building a meeting-house 
was abated." He claimed to be a Quaker. 

SECTION 5. — THE MINISTER'S SALARY. — DEVOTIONAL MUSIC. 

A few incidents claim insertion here before we come to the great con- 
test which resulted in the dismission of the minister, the Rev. Mr. Brown. 

In 1794, it was voted in town meeting, " to make an addition of thir- 
teen pounds, six shillings and eight pence to the Rev. Mr. Joseph 
Brown's salary yearly so long as he carries on the work of the gospel 
ministry in this church and congregation," 

There was a natural desire for a new and better collection of devotion- 
al poetry, to be used in public worship. The matter was brought up 
In a meeting held on the 3d of September ; but it was passed over. 
But on the 21st of November, the subject came up again, when it was 
" voted to desire the church to introduce Dr. Watts' version of the 
Psalms and Hymns, to be sung in the congregation." 

In 1796, May 5, " Voted to have a bass-viol used in the meeting- 
house on Sundays, in aid to the performance of music in the time of 
divine service." 

These last two votes denoted a revolution in the public taste. The 
old Hymns were forced to give way to the more elegant and poetic verse 
of the sainted Watts, and the pitch-pipe was superseded by viols where 
an organ could not be obtained. Each change cost a struggle, and left 
hard feelings in the breasts of many. The violent agitation in regard 
to the location of the new meeting-house, the excitement attendant up- 
on the introduction of the new Psalm and Hymn Book, and the bass- 
viol, followed by the long and bitter contention which led to the dismis- 
sal of Mr. Brown, doubtless alienated many, some of whom thereafter 
neglected public worship, while others were prepared to enter into new 
religious societies which, in a few years, came into existence. 

SECTION 6. — THE TOWN'S QUARREL WITH MR. BROWN. 

According to Dr. Whiton, dissatisfaction with Mr. Brown began to 
be felt and expressed in the year 1796, though nothing in relation to 
the matter is found on the Records prior to 1798. In the words of the 
Dr. : " prior to 1796, the connection of Mr. Brown with the people as 
town's minister, had been attended with peace and harmony. At this 



164 nrsroKT of winchexboh'. 

time some dissatisfaction arose, increased, and led to a mutual Eccle- 
siastical Council in October, composed of the churches in Lexington, 
Sudbury, Lunenburg, Berlin, and the first church in Worcester, before 
•which body his opponents proposed some charges against him ; not how- 
ever with an e:cpectation of effecting his dismission, but of obtaining some 
concessions. Acquitting Mr. Brown of any serious delinquency, the 
Council yet declared him open in some instances- to the imputation of 
imprudence ; but advised the parties to conciliation ; and the result was 
accepted by both parties," 

. " The calm that succeeded," says Dr. Whiton, " was of short dura- 
tion ; busy tongues were not easily restrained ; the parties did not cease 
from talking over past difficulties ; feelings became again chafed in 
1798 ; indeed, from the beginning of 1797 to 1800, the controversy 
between Mr. Brown and his people, formed the chief topic of conver- 
sation in all Winchendon circles. A majority of the town became ar- 
rayed against the minister, while a small majority of the church de- 
clared themselves in his favor." The causes of dissatisfaction are most- 
ly obscured or lost in the lapse of time. «The alleged causes were main- 
ly such as grow out of a hasty temper and imprudent speech. Per- 
haps there was some feeling that the minister Avas not thoroughly sound 
in doctrine, as it is said by aged persons that he belonged to the class 
of Congregational ministess who were termed Arminian in those days. 
Tradition moreover gives a more romantic version of the story. It is 
said that a prominent actor in the scenes, had been at one tirrtfe atten- 
tive to a daughter of the minister ; but that finding one possessed of 
greater charms, in his estimation, in the. person of a daughter of a lead- 
ing member of the parish, he deserted the one for the other. This is 
the egg, according to the traditional gossip of old times, -which in after 
years, was hatched, and became the source of alienation, and finally in- 
volved the -whole town in a violent quarrel. It is the old story of u spre- 
tce injuria formoe" and is so natural that it may possibly contain some 

grains of fact. 

But whatever was the occasion or cause of the difficulty, it went for- 
ward to its results with unabated violence. The first entry on the Rec- 
ords, bearing on the subject, b found under date of June 27, 1798, 
when we find an article in the warrant, in the words following : " to 
see if the town will grant any sum of money, to defray the cost, or any 
part thereof, that may arise in consequence of any proper and suitable 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 165 

measures that may bo taken in order to bring about a settlement of the 
unhappy difficulties which are subsisting among tfs." We have no record 
of what was done by the parties during the ensuing nine months, but in 
March, 1799, at the annual meeting on the 4th of the month, the " sense 
of the town" was taken on the following article in the warrant : " wheth- 
er in their opinion, the Reverend Joseph Brown's usefulness as a teach- 
er of piety, religion and morality, be at an end in this place or not ?" 
by polling the house, and sixty-four voted, that in their opinion, the 
Rev. Joseph Brown's usefulness in this place was at an end, and forty 
voted on the contrary side. " Then the town voted to choose a commit- 
tee of five persons to wait on the Rev. Joseph Brown, and inform him 
of the vote, and confer with him on the subject ; and Doctor Israel 
Whiton, Deacon Samuel Prentice, Mr. Ezra Hyde, Capt. David Rice, 
■and Mr. John Pcrley, were chosen. 1 ' 

We have no report from this committee of their interview with Mr. 
Brown ; but that it was not satisfactory to them or the town, may be 
inferred from the following action relative to the subject in hand. At 
a meeting held on the 1st of April, 1799, there was an article in the 
warrant as follows : 

" To see if the town will vote for the dismission of the Rev. Joseph Brown 
&om the work of the gospel ministry in this plaee fVem this time henceforth, for- 
ever. Upon a decision, by polling, 48 voted for the«dismissio« of the Rev. 
Joseph Brown, and thirty-four on the contrary side. Chose a committee of the 
towMo aet in concert with the church respecting the dismission of Mr. Brown." 
On the 6th of May the town voted the usual salary to the minister, and then 
voted that they " would not hire the Rev. Joseph Brown any longer after the 
18th day of March next as their minister." The Selectmen to furnish him 
with a copy of the vote. "Then the mind of the town was taken upon an article 
expressed as follows, namely, to sec if the town will express their minds with 
regard to joining with the ehureh in requesting a council consisting of neigh- 
bour churches, to bring about a dismission of the Rev. Joseph Brown from 
his pastoral relation to this church and people in a regular way, and to look 
into his character agreeable to his wish, as expressed in a paper he sent to the 
town dated March 4, 1799. Then the town instructed said committee to fur- 
nish Mr. Brown with a copy of the vote ceneerniag a eoaacil, which vote, af- 
ter being read passed in the affirmative." 

The following action on the 29th of May evinces the regard which 
the fathers of the town had for ecclesiastical order. 

** Whereas doubts have arisen in the minds of many persons respecting the 



166 HISTORY OF WIJfCHENBOJT. 

intentions of the town in voting not to hire the Rev. Joseph Brown as their 
minister after the 18th day of March next, and that the town will concur with 
the church in calling in an ecclesiastical council for his dismission from the 
church and people in this place, therefore voted that it is the sense of this town, 
that an ecclesiastical council is the proper authority to order into and depose 
a minister from his office, and that the town, by voting to concur with the church 
in calling a council, intended a recognition of ecclesiastical order and regu- 
larity." 

The town then voted that in case a ministerial council could be ob- 
tained on reasonable terms, for Mr. Brown's dismission, that the town 
would concur with the aggrieved brethren of the church in calling, a 
council of neighboring churches for the same purpose. They then chose 
five persons, viz : the Selectmen for the time being, a committee " to 
transact and negotiate with the church, or the aggrieved brethren of the 
church, as the case may be in all necessary matters relative to said 
council.' f 

At a preceding meeting, held on the 6th of May, the town took ac- 
tion as follows, according to the Records. 

' 'The following was voted at a legal town meeting of the inhabitants of the town 
of Winchendon. as reasons for giving it as their opinion that the Rev. Mr. 
Brown's usefulness is at an end in this place, viz : Whereas the Rev. Mr. 
Brown, in an addressrto the town on the fourteenth day of March, expressed 
a desire that the town would give some reasons for their opinion that his use- 
fulness as a preacher of the gospel was at an end in this place, they offgr the 
following, viz : 1st, That by his unexemplary and indiscreet behavior both m 
his conduct and conversation, he has created distrust, and destroyed that confi- 
dence which is so essential for a preacher of the gospel to retain in order to give 
efficacy to his ministerial labor, and so necessary for a people to have in one 
whom they are to consider as their spiritual guide, a messenger of truth, and 
a director in the important matters of religion. 2dly, His indulging himself 
in the injurious and unchristian practice of slandering, and his evident disre- 
gard for the truth, tending to derogate from the dignity of his sacred office, and 
consequently, to lessen that reverential respect due to religion, especially in 
the tender minds of the rising generation. Sdly, That he does not practise 
those things which make for peace, but on the contrary, by practising fraud 
and deception, keeps up disturbances in the church, especially in his official 
conduct in the late case of Samuel Crosby, Esq., all of which operate to the 
injury and disturbance of the town, consequently are deemed sufficient rea- 
sons to justify them in giving their opinion that his usefulness as a teacher of 




wWoMzmm®. 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 167 

piety, religion and morality is at an end in this place ; and the town are ready, 
if required, to substantiate the foregoing reasons, by adverting to particulars, 
and making proof thereof. Voted that the committee should furnish Mr. Brown 
with a copy of the foregoing." 

PROCEEDINGS OP THE COUNCIL. 

According to the proposals in the proceedings of the town, cited 
above, a council was held in September. No copy of the result of this 
body is to be found in the Records, or in the papers in the custody 
of the town clerk. If the Church Records ever contained a copy, it 
was carried away or destroyed by Mr. Brown. The following is taken 
word for word, from a copy of the result, in the handwriting of Dr. 
Payson, of Rindge, N. H. It was kindly furnished by the Hon. Ar- 
temas Hale, of Bridgewater, a native of Winchendon, and son of Dea. 
Moses Hale. It was found among his venerable father's papers, and 
is here given at length. As the Council was called at the instance of 
the town, and by its concurrence with the church, it finds its appro- 
priate place in this connection. The original has been deposited with 
the town clerk for preservation. 

" At an Ecclesiastical Council convened at Winchendon, pursuant to let- 
ters missive from the Pastor and ehurch in said town, on Tuesday, September 
3d, 1799, to judge of the expediency or inexpediency of the Rev. Mr. Brown's 
dismission from the pastoral office in this place, and also to attend to certain 
difficulties existing in the church ; were present from the churches in East 
Sudbury, Billerica, Bindge, Athol and Weston, the following Pastors and 
Delegates, viz : 

Reverend Messrs. Delegates. 

T . , v» ., ( Dea. Samuel Grriflra, 

Josiah Bridge, | Roberf ^^ 

Henry Cummings, Capt. John Kidder. 

,, -r, i Dea. Francis Powers, 

Seth Payson, | Col WilHam Gardnei , 

T , t, , , , i Capt. John Oliver, 

Joseph Estabrook, j m [ John Fairbanka _ 

o i -it- * ii !f Mr. Nathan Hagar, 

Samuel Kendall, j Mr j^ g^J^ 

At the desire of the parties, formed into a Council by choosing the Eev. 
Mr. Bridge, moderator, and Rev. Mr. Payson, scribe. Adjourned to the meet- 
ing-house, and having addressed the throne of grace, at the request ^f the par- 



168 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 

ties, voted unanimously that the Rev. Mr. Brown, with his adherents, and 
those of the church and town in opposition, be heard by such agent or agents 
as they shall choose to employ, they being under the direction and control of 
the Council. After various and unexpected objections and delays, arising 
from an unhappy dispute between the parties, relative to the latitude in which 
they had agreed to submit matters to the Council, each party consented to 
refer the question to their judgment, who thereupon proceeded to take up their 
grievances upon the largest scale, apprehending that to be most consonant to 
the spirit of the letters missive. 

After repeated adjournments from day to day, until Saturday noon, the 
Council attended to all the statements and evidences made and exhibited to 
them by the parties, and then adjourned until Monday morning; then met 
according to adjournment, and came to the following result, viz : 

1st. As to the first article, we would observe with deep regret and sorrow, 
we arc constrained by a due regard to truth and justice, to say, after the full 
exercise of Christian candor, and making all allowances for human frailty, 
that the Ilev. Mr. Brown has in several instances, discovered great want of 
prudence, manifested great precipitancy, and spoken unadvisedly with his lips. 

2d. With respect to the second article of charge, as it included circum- 
stances which would require a lengthy discussion, and might create difficulties 
in a neighboring church, the parties, by recommendation of Council, agreed 
to pass by consideration of this article. 

3d. Under the third article, it appears to this Council, that the Rev. Mr. 
Brown was secretly active to bring forward a civil prosecution against Samuel 
Crosby, Esq., in a matter wherein we have no reason to believe said Crosby 
to be guilty as reports had represented; of which conduct we cannot but ex- 
press our high disapprobation. With respect to the other particular under 
this head, it appears to this Council that they were either taken up in the 
former result, or were not so clearly supported as to justify a censure. 

41y. As to the fourth general charge, we esteem it much too high, and 
freely say, that in our opinion, it is not supported. So far as the particulars 
under it were considered and resulted upon by a former Council, we find no 
occasion to depart from their decision. As to some other particulars, we find 
it hard to reconcile Mr. Brown's recollections one with another, but do not 
find ourselves warranted from the evidence exhibited to us, to fix on him a 
censure. We are convinced that in most, if not all the particulars, Mr. Brown's 
declarations might be reconciled with a regard to truth, without implicating 
any of the witnesses. 

51y. In respect to the former grant of the fifth general charge relative to a 
vote of amnesty in the church, we refer to the result of the former Couneih 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 169 

In relation to the acceptance of said result, it appears to this Council, that 
Mr. Brown, at the first church meeting after the sitting of the Council, in- 
stead of representing the result as absurd ,and ridiculous, as stated in the 
charge, did manifest a readiness to accept it. Afterwards, when the aggrieved 
hesitated, desired time to consider, and requested Mr. Brown to discuss and 
explain it, he appears to have expressed himself in such a manner as tended 
greatly to irritate the feelings, and excite the resentment of the aggrieved, 
and accompanied those irritating expressions with a countenance and gesture 
which served to embitter his enemies, and alienate some of his friends; which, 
though not a rejection of the result, we consider as not savoring of that pa- 
cific and humble temper it recommends to the parties. 

61y. In relation to the last general charge, we find it to be a fact, judging 
by the vote of the town, that the majority are alienated from Mr. Brown, 
although it does not appear to us that it is owing to the cause assigned in 
this article of charge. 

The above charges are the general reasons alleged by the aggrieved breth- 
ren, and that part of the town which has connected itself with them, why the 
pastoral relation of the Rev. Joseph Brown to this people should be dissolved. 
To these reasons, a majority of the church, who still adhere to Mr. Brown, 
have opposed a number of weighty reasons. We have attended to them with 
care, and a disposition to admit their proper influence in determining our 
minds; but we think they will not justify our resulting that Mr. Brown shall 
hold his office among this people, or any part of them, unless reconciliation 
should be effected. 

In attending to the unhappy controversy in this place, we have had painful 
evidences of a strong bias in human nature to err on the uncharitable side, 
and to censure failings with unchristian severity, especially when the passions 
are irritated with real or supposed injuries. That we may not fall under the 
imputation of such a bias, we have made all candid and charitable allowances 
for human frailties and infirmities, in forming a result for the parties in this 
town; and have not magnified imprudences on either side into great crimes, 
nor made any one a great offender for every unadvised word which has escaped 
him in the warmth of controversy, or under the impressions of designed or 
apprehended provocations. Had such allowances been made by the contend- 
ing parties, in this town, in the management of these disputes, we are persua- 
ded that this controversy would never have arisen to its present height, nor 
have plunged them into their present embarrassments. Could the parties be 
persuaded^o consent, it would afford this Council great pleasure and satis- 
faction, ifa general amnesty, founded on acts of mutual forgiveness and ob- 
livion might terminate their present difficulties, and restore peace among them. 



170 HISTORY OF WTNCHENDON. 

This we would earnestly recommend to the parties, as the best way to heal 
their difficulties, and free their minds from unfriendly animosities towards 
each other. But if an accommodation cannot take place on this ground, within 
one month, we judge it advisable, under the existing circumstances, that Mr. 
Brown's pastoral relation to this church and people be dissolved. And 
whereas, we are expressly desired, in the letters missive, on the supposition, 
in our judgment, that his dismission is expedient, to direct and asiist as to 
the mode of effecting it, our advice is, that previously to its taking place, it 
be submitted to a reference, what compensation of a pecuniary nature he shall 
have for relinquishing his contract, unless he and his people can come into 
an agreement between themselves respecting the matter. If either party re- 
fuse thus to submit their pecuniary concerns, on the supposition they cannot 
agree between themselves; or if either party neglect actually to make choice 
of referees, and notify such choice to the other party, for more than three 
months, it ought, in our opinion, to be considered as a departure from the 
spirit and design of this result. This advice to refer pecuniary considerations, 
implies what we do not scruple to declare, that though Mr. Brown has been 
chargeable with some imprudences and unjustifiable conduct, especially in the 
late days of trial and temptation, yet he has not, in our opinion, forfeited his 
ministerial character. We can, therefore, in case. of his dismission from this 
church, sincerely recommend him to any other who may wish to employ him as 
a minister. We add that we feel disposed to embrace Mr. Brown's opponents, 
as well as himself, in the arms of christian candor, and to put as favorable a 
construction as possible, upon any improprieties in words or actions, which 
may be justly imputed to them; but impressed with the idea that an accusa- 
tion for evil report against an Elder is not to be received but at the mouth of 
two or three witnesses, we recommend it to them seriously to consider whether 
they have not, in some instances, suffered themselves to be too much exas- 
perated by the report of a single witness, contrary to the express directions 
of the Gospel. It is recommended that this result be accepted by all parties, 
and by each considered as christian satisfaction from the other in every in- 
stance wherein offence has been given. 

In respect to the complaint of Goodrich and Smith against the church in this 
place, that they for very insufficient reasons, dismissed a petition for inquiring 
into the conduct of Samuel Crosby, Esq., respecting certain depositions taken 
by said Crosby, in a case pending between Brown and Godfrey or Corey, it 
is our opinion that the church in that instance, was not reprehensible, but had 
full right, according to their discretion, to dismiss said petition in manner and 
form as alleged. 

In respect to the proceedings of the church against Abel 'Wilder, upon the 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 171 

complaint of Samuel Crosby, Esq., it is our opinion, notwithstanding the no- 
toriety of the fault charged against said Wilder, that the first and second steps 
should have been taken before the complaint could have been regularly brought 
into the church, and that the church ought not to have admitted it in opposi- 
tion to the plea that the previous steps had not been taken. Although the 
fault is represented as notorious, we conceive that the satisfaction might have 
been equally notorious, if given upon private application, or in consequence 
of either the first or second steps. These, in our opinion, ought to have been 
taken. We therefore advise the church to rescind their vote of suspension 
passed against said Wilder, and dismiss the complaint brought against him. 
We also reccommend it to said Crosby and Wilder to accept this result as a 
final result of the dispute between them. 

Having thus resulted on the several general articles brought before us, and 
advised the parties, we now most earnestly desire and entreat them to proceed 
with moderation and candor in everything yet to be transacted by them, re- 
membering that soft words turn away wrafch, and that mutual condescension 
and forbearance are necessary to the restoration of peace and harmony in this 
place. Hoping that our patient hearing and attending to all matters of dis- 
pute, will have a suitable influence on the temper and conduct of this people, 
we commend all persons and parties to God, and the word of his grace, ear- 
nestly praying that he would bless them with that peace which passeth all un- 
derstanding, and bring them again to know how good and pleasant it is for 
brethren to dwell together in unity. 

Voted unanimously. 

A true copy, Attest, 

Setii Payson, Scribe.^ 

Such was the Result of Council, a model for candor, impartiality and 
precision. It reached the only possible solution of the difficulties then 
existing, in the dismission of Mr. Brown, while it maintained his min- 
isterial character, and his right to a pecuniary consideration in conse- 
quence of yielding his claim on the town for salary in the future. The 
aim was probably, to effect his dismission, and to damage his reputation 
to such a degree, that his claim for compensation would be invalid. In 
this last regai-d, the minister gained a substantial victory in the Coun- 
cil. But the contest was not ended. The matter of compensation, ac- 
cording to the advice of the Council, was submitted to referees ; and 
there the point was to get clear of all damages, or reduce them to 
a minimum. To find the sequel, we must refer again to the town Rec- 
ords. On the 30th of September, 1799, a town meeting was held, 



172 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 

which " heard the Result of the Ecclesiastical meeting read." This 
meeting was adjourned to October 11, when after hearing the Result 
again, and maturely considering the same, it was voted, " to comply 
with the advice given in said Result, in referring pecuniary concerns 
to referees mutually chosen between the Rev. Mr. Brown on the one 
part, and the town, or their committee, on the other part, in case they 
cannot agree between themselves respecting the matter." The Select- 
men were directed " to negotiateand transact all necessary matters with 
Mr. Brown respecting a reference, and settling pecuniary matters." 
The committee attended to their duties without delay, and at the same 
meeting made a report to the town in writing as follows : 

" Pursuant to our being appointed a committee to negotiate matters with 
the Rev. Joseph Brown, we attended the service, and made an attempt to set- 
tle pecuniary matters, but did not succeed. We then attempted to choose 
referees, and each party nominate three persons. The committee nominated 
Daniel Biglo [Bigelow] Esq., of Petersham, Esq. Hale, of Brookfiekl, and 
Esq. Heywood, of Worcester. Then Mr. Brown nominated Major Bridge, of 
Lexington, Col. Wright, ofWestford, and Esq Wales, of Dorchester. Mr. 
Brown offered to let the committee choose cither of them for a chairman. Then 
the committee proposed to take the matter under consideration, and withdrew. " 

Samuel Crosby, 
Ezra Hide, 
Desire Tolman, 
Benjamin Hubbard. 

Another meeting was held oil' the 29th of November, when the Se- 
lectmen as a committee were empowered " to enter into arbitration bonds 
in behalf of the town, and submit matters relating to Mr. Brown, to ar- 
bitrators or referees." A committee — the Selectmen — to wait on Rev. 
Joseph Brown, " to sec if he will take a dismission in form from the 
town as their minister." A committee was chosen to supply the pul- 
pit after the 10th of December ; viz : Doct. Israel Whiton, Dca. Sam- 
uel Prentice and Samuel Crosby. On the 1st of December it was vo- 
ted that the same committee be authorized " in behalf of the town, to 
sign a rule of submission which was drawn up by Daniel Biglow, Esq., 
and was read in town meeting previous to the passing said vote. Also, 
voted that said committee acknowledge said vote before a Justice of the 
Peace, agreeable to an Act of the General Court, in which said rule is 
prescribed ; and then the meeting was adjourned for one hour for the 



HISTORY OF WIXCIIENDOX. ltd 

purpose of signing and acknowledging said rule, which was clone ac- 
cordingly ; and at the end of the hour, the town met again according 
to adjournment, and after being informed that pecuniary concerns were 
submitted to referees, viz : to Zaccheus Wright, of Westford, Josiah, 
Goddard, of Athol, and John Bridge, Esqrs. ; then the town passed the 
following vote, viz : " Whereas the town have complied with the con- 
ditions of Mr. Brown's dismission on their part, they consider his dis- 
mission as now effected, and that they do not consider themselves as 
holden to pay him any more salary from this time, and request him to 
desist from preaching, for the future, in this town." 

In regard to this reference, Dr. Whiton remarks : " that there was 
a great deal of excitement. The town attempted to show that Mr. Brown 
had had so much to do in creating the difficulty as- not to be entitled to 
pecuniary damages ; numerous witnesses were called in support of charg- 
es against him ; crowds were collected to hear the trial in the meeting- 
house. The town employed as their advocate, Hon. Levi Lincoln, soon 
afterwards Attorney General of the United States ; Mr. Brown hacl 
Hon. Timothy Bigelow, of Groton ; both advocates of the first eminence. 
The Referees — one of them however dissenting — gave Mr. Brown al- 
most one thousand dollars, and costs ; an award with which the town,, 
however reluctant, was obliged to comply." 

The town, as we have seen, thought its obligation to pay Mr. Brown's 
salary ceased after the first of December. They had agreed to abide 
by the decision of the referees, and had given bonds to that effect, and 
therefore now claimed the pulpit as under their control. It would seem 
however, that the other party had not arrived at the same conclusion. 
A town meeting was held on the 30th of December, when it was voted 
" to shut up and fasten the meeting-house." The committee chosen to- 
do this business, were Col. Boynton, Capt. Graton, Col. Woodbury, 
Lieut. Adams, Lieut. Raymond, Mr. Phinehas Whitney, and Mr. 
Geo. Coffin. This committee were instructed not to admit " any other 
person into the pulpit on the Sabbath, excepting the preacher, or 
preachers employed by order of the town, or their committee." The 
marks of this committee's Avork are still to be seen in the old window 
sashes of the meeting-house now in one of the shops of Mr. Baxter D. 
Whitney. What was the necessity for this action, is not definitely 
known ; but it is quite possible that Mr. Brown thought the town had 
not complied with the conditions of the reference until he had received 



174 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 

his dues. However that may be, it is pretty certain that Mr. Brown 
could not force his way to the pulpit through such a cordon of military 
officers as were set to guard the entrances to the sanctuary. A few 
items more from the records, will close the narrative of this unhappy 
controversy. On the 20th of January, 1800, the town voted a " sum 
of money to pay the cost of the late reference, and allowed Flavel 
Crosby's charge for two journeys to Worcester, and, including cash 
paid Judge Lincoln and Mr. Bangs, $250." 

Take also in this connection, the following significant move. One 
article in the warrant for the annual meeting, March 3, 1800, was " to 
see what instructions the town will give the assessors respecting abating 
the rates of those persons who are of the denomination of Baptists or 
Methodists, respecting all charges on account of our late Minister in 
town." This matter was left with the Assessors. 

On the 7th of May, the town granted "the sum of eight hundred 
eighty-six dollars and eighty-eight cents, for the purpose of discharging 
the demand that Rev. Joseph Brown has against the the town;" and 
on the 28th, a vote was passed, granting" to witnesses at the referees, 
and summoning them, $2G,78." At the same meeting, the question 
was raised in respect to " petitioning the General Court to grant anew 
hearing in the action, " Joseph Brown, clerk, against the inhabitants 
of the town of Winchendon.' " The motion was passed over. How- 
ever reluctant to pay, the town did not think it best to prolong the con- 
test. Their delay however laid them open to an action in law, which 
led to the following vote in town meeting, November 3, 1800. "Vo- 
ted that the money be collected immediately for the purpose of repay- 
ing the money that was borrowed to discharge the execution, " Brown 
against the Inhabitants of Winchendon." After all these details, it is 
pleasant to read the following words, from one whose boyhood was fa- 
miliar with the whole transaction. Dr. Whiton says: " Soon afterwards 
these agitations, which had made Winchendon like a boiling caldron, 
began to subside. Mr. Brown, a year or two after his dismission, re- 
moved from town, supplied for a few years the desk at Guilford, Ver- 
mont, and died at Windsor, at the house of a son-in-law, in 1810." 

THE TOWN-PARISH SINCE 1800. 

Perhaps it may be as well to finish up the history of the town as a 
parish, before laying the subject aside. It continued to act in that 



HISTORY OF WINCHENBON. 175 

capacity throughout the ministry of Mr. Pilsberry * and a few years 
into that of his successor, Mr. Clark, when its functions in that line 
terminated. 

On the 2d of February, 1801, the town voted to " take some meas- 
ures respecting agreeing with Mr. Levi Pillsbury as to the time of his 
Settling among us as a publick teacher of piety, morality and religion." 
In the next place, under another article, it was voted to make choice 
of Mr. Levi Pillsbury as their " publick teacher of piety, morality and 
religion." They voted to offer him $400 as salary annually, and every 
year, including rents of ministerial lands, as long as said town and said 
Mr. Pillsbury shall agree. A committee was chosen to attend to the 
business, viz : Dr. Israel Whiton, Amos Heywoocl, Lt. Paul Raymond, 
Col. Jacob B. Woodbury and Col. Paul Boynton. 

This committee reported on the 9th of March, and from the tenor 
of their report it is clear that the candidate would not agree to settle 
on their proposal as to time — " as long as they — shall agree ;" because, 
after hearing the report, it was voted not to accept it. Then the last 
clause of the report was erased. After the " erasement," the report 
was accepted. Probably the committee agreed with Mr. Pillsbury, in 
inserting other words, given below, and that the town rejected them. 
Then the committee were directed to see Mr. Pillsbury " to see if he 
will accept the same ; that is, their terms — and if he will not, to agree 
with him, if they can, and report to the town." By the proceedings 
at the next meeting, March 16, it appears that the town agreed to Mr. 
Pillsbury's terms. " Voted to give Mr. Levi Pillsbury 400 dollars for 
his annual salary so long as he shall continue to be our public teacher 
of piety, religion a^d morality, the said Mr. Pillsbury relinquishing all 
claims to ministerial lands and rents belonging to said town." 

Mr. Pillsbury was ordained on the 24th day of June, in preparation 
for which ceremony, the town made arrangements by the choice of ap- 
propriate committees. The Selectmen were to make provision for the 
ordaining Council, and a committee of six were to " superintend the or- 
ders of the day of ordination." These were Messrs. Thomas Graton, Ben- 
jamin Wilder, Benjamin Hubbard, Mason Spooner, Ephraim Murdock 
and Abel Jones. One hundred dollars were granted for the necessary 



*Pilsberry was his way of spelling his name, but in deference to the wishes 
of some of his descendants, it wilf be given hereafter as Pillsbury, according 
to their mode. 



176 HISTORY OF WIXCHENDOX. 

charges of the ordination ; and then the two committees were directed 
"jointly to examine the meeting-house before the ordination, to see if 
it is sufficient for the ordination day." 

1802, January 5. The town voted " to paint the meeting-house, 
next season, a bright stone color." 

1803, April 4. It was voted " to purchase a Great Bible for the 
pulpit." Rev. Mr. Pillsbury, with Dea. Hale and Esq. Crosby were 
the committee to purchase. 

November 21. The town voted to pass over an article in the warrant 
about a petition of " some inhabitants of the town, to the General Court, 
for incorporation as a Baptist Society." A wise conclusion not to meddle. 

1801, March 5. Nathaniel Holman, Paul Raymond and Thomas 
Greenwood were chosen to " lay out 50 dollars" for a singing-school. 

1806, November 3. Voted to "shorten the intermission on Sundays 
to one hour thro' the year." 

SECTION 7. THE MINISTER'S POLITICS. 

The town was strongly federal in its political views and party con- 
nections, the candidate of the federal party for the office of Governor 
sometimes receiving every vote, and always a large majority. Mr. 
Pillsbury was a republican, which term in those days denoted a sup- 
porter of Mr. Jefferson and his principles. This difference of opinion 
led to some alienation between the minister and his people, and an at- 
tempt was made in 1807, to bring about a dissolution of the pastoral 
relation. At a meeting on the 4th of May, a committee was chosen 
" to converse with the Rev. Levi Pillsbury, to come into some method 
in order for an accommodation concerning difficulties that have arisen 
between him and the inhabitants of the town." Messrs. Hananiah 
Whitney, Paul Raymond, J. B. Woodbury, Thomas Graton and De- 
sire Tolman, were the committee. Then the following motion was put 
and accepted, as the vote is recorded ; there being 33 yeas, and 28 
nays. 

« Lamenting the unhappy difficulties that have arisen in this town respect- 
ing the utility of retaining the Rev. Levi Pillsbury in this place, as a teacher 
of D piety, religion and morality, but believing that they are of such a nature 
that it will be for the interest of each party to have a separation of the minis- 
terial relation take place upon ecclesiastical principles, without any inquiry 



HISTORY OP WINCHENDON. 177 

into character, 'tis moved and seconded that the committee chosen to talk 
with him, wait on him and see on what terms he will dissolve said ministerial 
relation, and report his answer at the adjournment of this meeting." 

At a subsequent meeting on the 15th of June, Mr. Pillsbury's written 
answer was sent in and read in town meeting. This is not on record. 
There was another meeting on the 29th of June, when the question was 

" To take the sense of the inhabitants of the town, whether in their opin- 
ion, the Rev. Levi Pillsbury's usefulness as a teacher of piety, religion and 
morality, be at an end in this place or not, and whether they are willing to 
grant him any farther support as a teacher thereof; and to see if the town 
will choose a committee to use all legal means to bring about a separation 
between the Rev. Levi Pillsbury and the town." 

The article was divided, and the town voted that their minister's 
usefulness was not at an end, by a vote of 51 to 44. It was then voted 
to grant Mr. Pillsbury further support, and the proposition for a com- 
mittee was passed over. This matter rested for several years, the ma- 
jority not thinking it profitable to have another quarrel with their set- 
tled minister. 

In 1810, a sum of money was granted for the support of a singing 
school, any inhabitant of the town being free to attend. In 1811, the 
Selectmen were authorized to " repair the meeting-house as they think 
best." 

In 1814, March 7, at the annual town meeting, the feelings of a 
portion of the town in regard to the politics of the minister, were again 
manifested. For though no cause of displeasure was expressed, it is 
well known that a difference of sentiment on public questions was at 
the bottom of the movement. Mr. Pillsbury sustained the administra- 
tion in declaring war against Great Britain, while a large majority of 
the voters supported Gov. Caleb Strong in his strenuous opposition to 
the policy of the general government. There was an article in the war- 
rant to see " whether any alteration can be made which will render the 
preaching of the Gospel in this tow T n more useful." The action taken, 
while it avoided a struggle with the minister, was probably considered 
as an implied censure of his course, while it conveyed a wholesome piece 
of advice to his opponents. It was as follows : 

" Voted as the sense of this town, that the most effectual means of making 
the preaching of the gospel useful yi this place, will be for each individual to 

13 



178 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON". 

attend more strictly to the duties it enjoins, to follow the precepts it contains, 
and by using that Christian charity inculcated thereby, may teach its enemies 
that however Christians may disagree in minor subjects, yet as brethren of the 
same family, they can dwell together in unity. Voted that it be recommend- 
ed to the preacher to abstain from disseminating from the pulpit those princi- 
ples which are not contained in the gospel." 

There was no pretense that Mr. Pillsbury inculcated principles con- 
trary to the gospel, for he was eminently sound in the Orthodox faith. 
By " those principles which are not contained in the gospel," the town 
probably meant the political sentiments of Messrs. Jefferson, Madison 
and others of that school df politicians. After this the minister was not 
molested by any movement of the same kind till his decease. The town 
respected him, and cheerfully paid his annual salary. _ _ 

May 2, " Voted and granted $15 for the purpose of purchasing sing- 
in cr books for the use of the singers." 

°1815 March 6. " Granted $40 for the use of singing, and exempt 
the Methodists from paying their part." Probably they had a school 
of their own in the northwest part of the town. 

SECTION 7. THE STEErLE AND BELL. 

It was voted at a meeting held on the 11th of September, « to make 
the ground where the body seats are on the lower floor in the : meeting- 
house, into pews for the purpose of building a tower. ' By this it will 
be understood that a portion of the central part of the meeting-house 
had never been filled with pews. 

A committee was raised at this meeting, who reported on the 7th ot 

November as follows : 

« The committee chosen by the town to take into consideration the expedi- 
ency of selling any ground in the meeting-house, and also the expediency of 
buildin. a tower, cupola, or steeple, with receiving such proposals as may be 
made for building the same, report, that having attended to an examination 
of the meeting-house, they are of opinion that there may be six pews on the 
lower floor, and have the front seats entire, as appears by the plan ; and are 
of opinion that they will fetch six hundred dollars when built They are al- 
so of opinion that there may be four pews built in each S1 de gallery and have 
a 1 the'eats as far north as the stairway, and the first seat north of ha , as 
ppears by the plan, which will probably fetch two hundred del ars when nu- 
lled And Uey are of opinion that the-expense of building the pews will 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 179 

amount to one hundred dollars, leaving to be disposed of by the town, the sum 
of seven hundred dollars. They farther report that they have received sun- 
dry proposals for erecting a tower, cupola or steeple, agreeable to the annexed 
plan. One is, that it may be built for seven hundred dollars ; and another, 
that it may be built for the pew ground as is laid out in the annexed plans, 
on condition that they may build the pews this fall, and complete the tower, 
cupola or steeple the next season. They therefore report that it is expedient 
to sell the pew ground in the annexed plans, and erect a tower and cupola, or 
steeple, with the proceeds thereof. They are much induced to this from the 
very liberal subscription which is made by sundry inhabitants for a bell which 
is herewith submitted. 

Ephraim Murdock, Joseph Wyman, 
Isaac Morse, Moses Hale, Jr., 

Benj. Adams, Israel Whitcomb, 

Sam'l No yes, Committee." 

The above plan was adopted by the town, and carried into effect. 
Later in the season a committee was appointed, consisting of Lt. Paul 
Raymond, Mr. Ephraim Murdock and Lt. Isaac Morse, to see to the 
repairing of the meeting-house ; and on the 4th of November a meet- 
ing was held, when, under the articles to see what measures the town 
will take respecting the acceptance of the bell and belfry, and to see if 
the town will choose a committee to convey the pews recently built to 
Capt. Phinehas Whitney, the following proceedings took place. 

" To the inhabitants of the town of Winchendon, in town meeting assem- 
bled : 

At a meeting of the subscribers for the purchase of a church bell, designed 
for the use of the Congregational Society in said Winchendon, held in Win- 
chendon, in October, 1816, Voted to choose a committee to present the bell, 
in behalf of the proprietors, to the town of Winchendon, on the conditions 
which will appear in the representations to the town hereunder written. Chose 
Horatio Gates Newcomb, Ephraim Murdock, and Isaac Morse, a committee 
for the aforesaid purpose. 

Horatio G. Newcomb, Clerk." 

The conditions are given in the following paper, with a list of the 
names of subscribers. 

" Certain individuals, inhabitants of the town of Winchendon, whose names 
are hereunto annexed, beg leave respectfully to represent to the town, by their 
committee, that having purchased a church bell by subscription, suitable for, 
and to be used at the Congregational meeting-house in said town, are desirous 



180 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 



to present the same to said town, for their use and benefit, on the following 
conditions : that the town accept the same, keep it in good and sufficient re- 
pair, cause it to be rung and tolled at the usual and customary times, and in a 
suitable and devout manner ; and that they will cause, by their vote, this rep- 
resentation of the said subscribers, by their committee, together with the names 
of the subscribers who have purchased by their liberality, the said Church bell, 
with the sum that each individual has given therefor, to be entered and en- 
rolled on the records of the said town, that the same may stand as a perpetu- 
al monument and testimony of the deed,— that it may be known from view of 
the records of the town, at whose expense, and in what manner the Church 
bell of Winchendon was obtained. 

The following are the names of the persons who by subscription, purchased 
and hung the church bell of this town, and the sum annexed to each name is 
the amount given by the subscriber therefor. 



NAMES. 



Capt. Phinehas Whitney, 
Col. Benj. Adams, 
Br. Israel Whiton, 
Lieut. Isaac Morse, 
Mr. Ephraim Murdoch, 
Mr. Amasa "Whitney, 
Mr. Joseph Jewett, 
Rev. Levi Pillsbury, 
Mr. Joseph Wyman, 
Horatio G. Newcomb, Esq., 
Moses Hale, Jr., Esq., 

Capt. Israel Whitcomb, 

Br. Win. H. Cutter, 

Mr. Samuel Noyes, 

Mr. Asa Perley, 

Col. Jacob B. Woodberry, 

Mr. Joseph Whitney, 

Mr. Jacob Whitney, 

Capt. Abijah Pierce, 

Lt. Hananiah Whitney, Jr., 

Mr. Asa Washburn, 

Mr. Lovell Goodridge, 

Mr. Joshua Gill, 

Mr. Moses M. Reed, 
" Stephen Tolman, 
" Seth Tucker, 
" Jonas Brooks, 
" Joshua Smith, 

Capt. Joshua Stoddard, 



$51 00 
50 00 
50 00 
25 00 
20 00 
20 00 
20 00 
12 00 
7 00 

6 00 
5 00 
5 00 

7 00 
2 00 
5 00 
5 00 

8 00 
5 00 

10 00 

5 00 

10 00 



oo 
00 
00 
00 
00 
00 
00 



6 00 



Mr. Jacob Woodberry. 


2 00- 


li Luke Wilder, 


2 00 


" John Flint, 2d, 


100 


" Jacob Wales, Jr., 


3 00 


" Charles Tolman, 


2 50 


" Samuel Steel, 


2 75 


" Stephen Beals, 


100 


Capt. Joseph Robbins, 


2 00 


Mr. John Brooks, 


2 00 


Capt. Benj. Wilder, 


3 00 


Mr. Jewett B. Barling, 


2 33 


" George Hey wood, 


1 oo 


Ensign Simeon Stearns, 


1 00 


Mr. Lyman Raymond, 


100. 


" James Martin, 


1 00 


Capt. Timothy Hancock, 


3 00 


Mr. Levi Woodberry, 


3 00 


" Richard Stuart, 


3 00 


" Samuel Brown, 2d, 


3 00 


" Phinehas Parks, 


100 


Capt. Abel Jones, 


100 


Mr. Eber Arnold, 


• 5 00 


" Mr. Luke Parks, 


100 


" Rufus Wilder, 


1 00 


Enoch Kidder, Esq., 


2 00 


Lt. Paul Raymond, Jr., 


5 00 


Mr. Asa Hale, 


1 00 


" Samuel Brown, Jr., 


1 00 


" Charles Raymond, 


1 00 



HISTORY OF WlffCHENDON. 181 



Capt David Bearaan, 1 00 

Mr. Thomas Greenwood, 5 00 

" Atkins Norton, 7 00 

" Luther Stimson, 1 50 

" Israel Taylor, Jr., 1 00 

" John Brook, 2d, 1 00 

" Phinchas Ross, 100 

" William Tolman, 1 50 

" David Goodridgy, 1 50 

" Caleb Lincoln, 1 00 

" Arba Brooks, 1 00 

" John Estey, 1 00 



Mr. Levi Brooks, 1 00 
" Ebenezer Richardson, Jr., 1 00 

Lt. John Raymond, 1 00 

Mr. David Buttrick, 1 00 

" John Crosby, 1 00 

" William Potter, 1 00 

" Reuben Vose, 1 00 

" Bartholomew Stearns, 1 32 

" Seth Sargeant, 50 

" Joseph Ditson, 25 

" Aaron Sargeant. 25 

H. G. Newcomb, ) 

Efiiraim Murdock, >■ Committee." 

Isaac Morse, ) 

The report of the committee respecting the belfry was taken up in 
town meeting, which report was " that they accept of the belfry or stee- 
ple, on condition that the undertakers make some alterations as they 
agreed." The report was accepted. Then the town " accepted, of the 
hell as offered by the proprietors' committee." After which the town 
" tendered their thanks to the proprietors of the bell for their great gen- 
erosity and benevolence." Samuel Prentice was chosen as agent to 
convey the pews recently built to Capt. Phinehas Whitney, who had 
been foremost in the enterprise of erecting the steeple, obtaining the 
bell, and building the new pews. 

The bell was a great novelty, and the young people listened to its 
booming sound with wonder. They rang it by the hour ; and when one 
party was wearied, another relieved them, until not only the air, but 
the people were full of the sound. The next year, April 7, the town 
made certain regulations about the time of ringing, which are here giv- 
en. " Voted, that the bell is to be rung on Sundays according to usu- 
al custom, and for all other meetings and funerals. And till the 15th 
of May, at 9 o'clock in the evening ; and from the 15th of September, 
at 9 o'clock in the evening for the remainder of the year ; and at 12 
o'clock at noon during the year." 

1818, May 4. The town chose a committee of three " to see if they 
can find a convenient place in the meeting-house to set a stove, viz : 
Messrs. Ephraim Murdock, Israel Whitcomb, and Moses Hale." It 
was more than five years after this before the town allowed a stove to 
he put into the house at private expense. At this meeting, $250 were 



182 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 

granted to defray the expense of painting the meeting-house — the work 
to be done this year or next — the body of the house to be white, the 
roof black. Messrs. Murdock, Morse and Hale were the committee. 

SECTION 8. — DEATH OF MR. PILLSBURY. 

After a brief sickness, Mr. Pillsbury departed this life on the 5th of 
April, 1819, in the maturity of his powers, and while increasing in de- 
votedness to his work, and growing in usefulness. The next day, Tues- 
day, April 6, " a large number of the inhabitants of the town of Win- 
chendon," say the Records, "assembled at the meeting-house in said 
town, occasioned by the recent death of the Rev. Levi Pillsbury, Pastor 
of the church of Christ in Winchendon, and minister of the Congregation- 
al Society in said town, who departed this life, April 5th, 1819, in the 
forty-eighth year of his age, and eighteenth of his ministry ; after the 
throne of grace was addressed in prayer by the Rev. Samuel Simonds, 
the following votes were passed, Dca. Desire Tohnan, Moderator. 

" Voted, that the town pay the funeral charges of their deceased minister. 

Voted, that the town provide necessary articles of mourning for the family 
of the deceased minister. 

Voted, that Messrs. Horatio Gr. Newcomb, Isaac Morse, Ephraim Murdock, 
Phinehas Whitney, Israel Whitcomb, Paul Raymond, Jr., Moses Hale, Jr., 
Jacob Woodbury, and Moses M. Reed, be a committee to provide for, make 
arrangements, and conduct the funeral procession. 

Voted, that the Rev. Samuel Simonds be invited to attend the funeral with 
other ministers. 

Voted, that three of the principal singers be a committee to make arrange- 
ments respecting the singing at the funeral. Messrs. Elias Sberwin, Zenas 
Hancock and Job Hyde, were chosen for said committee." 

On the 10th of May, the town voted to allow the account presented 
by the committee* chosen to superintend the funeral of Mr. Pillsbury. 
It is headed, " Bill of the expense of the funeral of the late Rev. Levi 
Pillsbury, and the amount expended for mourning clothes for the fam- 
ily." Then follow the items, including articles of food, as Sour, sugar, 
meat, as well as pay for horses, and the inevitable liquor. Besides bran- 
dy and West India rum, there were " 1G mugs of toddy delivered tho 
Music, costing $4.00, and 1 1-4 mugs for the committee, at 31 cents." 
Articles of wearing apparel were procured } amounting to about thirty 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDOtf. 183 

dollars. The coffin cost, four dollars, which was above the usual price 
in those days. One item indicates the severity of the season. The fu- 
neral was on the 7th or 8th of April, and there must have been, either 
a great body of old snow on the ground, or a recent fall, with drifts. 
The item is this : " rum and sugar for men shoveling road in snow, 
$1.54; cigars, 13." 

The close of the report of the committee, like all the proceedings of 
the town, shows the respect of the people for their minister, and their 
own proper self-respect, in paying due honor to his remains. 

" The foregoing schedule comprises all the items and total amount of the 
funeral expenses of the late Rev. Levi Pilsberry, together with a specification 
of the articles, and amount expended in procuring for Mrs. Pilsberry and her 
family, a decent and suitable suit of mourning clothes, in conformity with a 
vote unanimously given by a large and respectable portion of the inhabitants 
of the town, convened for that purpose, on Tuesday, the Gth clay of April, 1819. 

The committee would here observe that they can safely assure the town, 
that in making the necessary arrangements for the funeral, as well as in pro- 
curing the materials therefor, and for the family suit, they avoided all unne- 
cessary expenses, observing the best economy the nature of the case, and the 
circumstances would admit. All which is by your committee humbly sub- 
mitted." 

Thus reverently did the town follow their minister to the narrow 
house appointed for all the living. 

SECTION 9. — SEEKING FOR A NEW MINISTER. 

At this meeting, May 10., a committee of five, — viz : George Coffin, 
Isaac Morse, Samuel Prentice, Phinehas Whitney and Samuel Brown, 
— was chosen " by written votes, to supply the town with a preacher 
of the gospel." There is something curious about this meeting in one 
respect ; that is, that it was continued by adjournment, for several months, 
and never accomplished anything farther. First, it adjourned to Au- 
gust 2 ; then to the 23d ; then to November 1 ; then to the 22d ; then 
to December 3d ; then to the 14th ; then to March 6, 1820. After 
hearing the report of the committee to supply the pulpit, adjourned to 
March 13 ; then met and voted that the committee hire a candidate as 
goon as possible. Adjourned to April 3 ; then to May 1 ; then to Ju- 
ly 3 ; then met and voted that the committee be instructed to hire the 
Uev. Eber L. Clark seven Sabbaths more if they can agree with him. 



184 HISTORY OF WI2fCHENlX>N. 

Then adjourned to August 21 ; then met and adjourned to the first 
Monday in October next, at 4 o'clock P. M. Then says the town clerk, 
with a touch of humor, " this meeting died a natural death." 

In the meantime, other meetings had been held, for the same pur- 
pose, but in reference to another candidate. On the 12th of October, 
1819, it was voted " to choose a committee of three persons to wait on 
the Rev. Seth Payson, of Rindge, N. H., and Mr. Elam Clark, to the 
meeting-house, viz : Dea. Desire Tolman, Lieut. Isaac Morse, Capt. 
Phinehas Whitney." After the throne of grace was addressed by Dr. 
Payson, the town proceeded to business, and voted unanimously " to 
join with the church, and give Mr. Elam Clark a call to settle in the 
gospel ministry in this town. Voted to give Mr. Elam Clark six hun- 
dred and fifty dollars salary annually so long as he may be a gospel min- 
ister in this town; and two [or ten] hundred dollars settlement." 

This call was declined. Mr. Clack preached some Sabbaths subse^ 
quently, and on Monday, March 6, 1820, it was voted, " that the town 
renew their call to Mr. Elam Clark, and to settle him as a gospel min- 
ister in this town upon the same conditions in all respects, which were 
offered him previously to his answer." In a" few days Mr. Clark gave 
his second answer in the negative. 

On the 14th of August, a committee was chosen — Messrs. Tolman, 
Coffin and Morse — to wait on the Rev. John Sebbins, [Sabin] of Fitz- 
williain, and on Rev. Eber L. Clark, to the meeting-house to attend 
prayer. After prayer by Mr. Sabin, the town " voted unanimously to 
join with the church and give the Rev. Eber L. Clark a call to settle 
as a gospel minister in this town." The matter came up again on the 
7th of September, at which time the terms of settlement were fixed. 
The town voted, with entire unanimity, to unite with the church, in 
calling Mr. Clark, upon the following conditions and terms : 

"That this town will pay him six hundred dollars salary annually, so long 
as ho remains a gospel minister in this place ; also a settlement of four hun- 
dred dollars ; the salary to commence on the day of his ordination. The town 
also agreed to pay him the four hundred dollars settlement, and so much of 
his salary as may become due on the twenty-fourth day of February next, af- 
ter which time his salary shall become due on the 24th day of February an- 
nually." 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 185 

Then comes this singular proviso : -which shows that the town still re- 
membered what it cost to get a former minister dismissed. 

" Provided however, that the Rev. Eber L. Clark, or two-thirds of the le- 
gal voters of the church and the Congregational Society in said town, shall in 
legal town meeting assembled for that purpose, think it expedient that the min 
isterial connection between them shall be dissolved, shall state to each other 
in writing, the peculiar grounds and causes of their dissatisfaction ; then in six 
months thereafter, in case a reconciliation should not take place, both parties 
shall consider themselves bound to join in a mutual ecclesiastical council, be- 
fore whom the grounds of their dissatisfaction shall be stated ; and the con- 
nection shall be by them dissolved by their giving the minister and people 
such characters as they may think will be most for the honor of religion. And 
uo money to be demanded as damage on cither side." 

Then a committee of five— Messrs. Tolman, Coffin, Morse, Murdock 
and Woodbury, — were sent to wait upon Mr. Clark tp the meeting ; 
and after half an hour, he came in and gave his answer in the affirma- 
tive. A committee of three, — Dea. Hale, Dea. Coffin and E. Mur- 
dock, Esq., — were chosen to confer with Mr. Clark in regard to the 
time of the installation, who agreed upon the third Wednesday of Oc- 
tober. The Selectmen were directed to agree with Mr. Eliel Shcrwin 
" to take the lead of singing" at the public service. A committee of 
five to provide for the Council, was chosen, viz : E. Murdock, Lt. Paul 
Raymond, Samuel Brown, Amasa Whitney and Thomas Greenwood. 
All the neighboring ministers, with the Rev. John M. Whiton, of An- 
trim, N. H., a native of this town, were to be invited to the Council. 
On the 18th of September, twelve Marshals of the day were chosen, 
viz: Messrs. H. G. Newcomb, Esq., E. Murdock, Esq., David Bea- 
man, Israel Whitcomb, Lt. Paul Raymond, Capt. John Forristall, Capt. 
Joshua Stoddard, Capt. Abijah Pierce, Capt. Hananiah Whitney, Jr., 
Capt. John Raymond, Capt. Nathan Wood and Mr. Jacob Woodbury. 
This committee was also to see " to the propping of the meeting-house." 
Another committee was chosen to present the doings of the town to the 
Council, viz : Samuel Prentice, Moses M. Reed and Capt. Phinehas 
Whitney. And finally, a committee of three, in addition to the Select- 
men, was chosen " to provide for singing on the day of installation, not 
to exceed. 20 dollars." The committee were Capt. Stoddard, Stephen 
Tolman and Samuel Brown, Jr., besides the Selectmen, who were Gid- 



186 HISTORY OP WINCHENDON. 

eon Balcom, Asa Hale and William Tolman. Such was the action of 
the town when performing the part of a parish, in settling a minister, 
according to the old method. 

MISCELLANEOUS. 

A few extracts from the Records will close the history of the town 
as a parish. On the 21st of the following August, the town granted 
815, to be paid to Mrs. Pillsbury, for the purpose of purchasing grave 
stones for the Rev. Levi Pillsbury, deceased. Four years later, No- 
vember 1, 1824, we find the following : " Voted that there be a grave- 
stone procured for the Rev. Levi Pillsbury, in the room of the one that 
was broke, to be assessed in the minister's tax next year, so that the 
Rev. Mr. Clark's society shall be at the expense of said stone." 

1825, January 3. " Granted $100 to be laid out in the instruc- 
tion of singing in each religious society in town, in proportion to what 
they pay, and ehose a committee of nine to lay out the money for that 
purpose to the best advantage of each society." The committee was 
composed of these persons. For the Congregational Society, Mr. Job 
Hyde, Dr. James M. Fuller, Mr. Stephen Tolman. For the Baptist 
Society, Dea. Joshua Smith, Mr. Stephen B. Smith, Luke Rice. For 
the Methodist Society, Capt. Joseph Robbins, Mr. Smyrna Graton, Mr. 
Richard Stuart. Probably the Baptist Society did not spend their por- 
tion of the appropriation for singing, as the Society was authorized by 
the town, May 2, to draw their money for singing, and pay it to indi- 
viduals of said Society, by Dea. Joshua Smith. 

At length the town became willing to have the meeting-house warmed, 
provided stoves could be procured at private expense, as will be seen 
by the following action. December 26, 1825. " Voted that the town 
accept of a stove or stoves and suitable funnels, and cause that they 
shall be erected, and taken proper care of, and provide wood for the 
same, and that a fire shall be made in said stoves at all proper times, 
provided there should be one or two purchased by subscription." Chose 
a committee, Israel Whitcomb, Amasa Y/hitney and Phinehas Whit- 
ney, " to superintend the erecting said stove or stoves." Then voted 
to purchase a cord of " good hard wood, seasoned and cut, birch, beech 
or maple ;" the above committee " to superintend the building the fire 
in the stoves." By one move farther the town fixed this matter satis- 
factorily to itself. On the 12th of January, 1826, the above vote was 



HISTORY OF WIXCHENLON. 187 

-econsidered, and then it was voted, " that the town give liberty that 
he stoves which are purchased by subscription, be erected in the Con- 
gregational meeting-house, and be supported by the Congregational So- 
:iety." Probably the members of the Congregational Society, having 
earned that they could not have a stove in the place where they were 
.ccustomed to worship, without the consent of the town, were prepared 

see that an entire separation from the town would be beneficial to the 
congregational church and society. At all events, a vote was passed, 
,t this meeting, by which the town ceased to act as a parish, and sev- 
red its connection Avith the Congregational church. It was in these 
rords : " Voted that the town will cause all business relating to either 
^ciety in town to be transacted in futer by the members of said society." 

The time had fully come for the connection between the town and the 
arish to be terminated. It was formed when nearly all the inhabit- 
nts were of one mind in matters of religion, and when the fairest and 
3adiest method of sustaining public worship, was through the action of 
le town. But a great change had taken place in the lapse of years. 
Few families had moved in who were connected with other denomina- 
ons of Christians. The unhappy troubles in the parish, and in the 
lurch, which had arisen from time to time, had alienated many from 
ic " standing order." A Baptist and a Methodist church had been 
•ganized, and there was a number of persons who were neither Bap- 
3t, Methodist or Orthodox. It was obviously unjust to tax all these 
ssenting classes for the support of Orthodox preaching ; and there was 

1 inconvenience in abating their taxes every year. The best course 
be taken for all parties, was for the town, to cease to be a parish, and 

us leave all denominations on the same basis, in regard to their con- 
sction with the town. This was done, and the town left the meeting- 
>use in the possession of the Congregational Society for all purposes 
worship, while it continued to hold town meetings within its walls 
itil the new Town Hall in the Village was built. Since then the town, 
its corporate capacity, has been happily free from all differences in 
gard to the maintenance of public worship, and the various religious 
cieties have proved amply qualified to perform all the duties, in this 
te, which formerly were attended to by the municipal officers. 



188 HISTORY OP WINCHENDON. 



CHAPTER XII. — THE CLOSE OF THE 
LAST CENTURY. 



" While systems change, and suns retire, and worlds slumber and wake — 
Time's ceaseless march proceeds." II. Ware. 

The main portion of our history has been brought down to the 
year 1800. What remains pertaining to the militia, to business, and 
other matters, will be given in subsequent chapters. But before pro- 
ceeding farther, it will be well to pause here, and look at the state of 
society, the condition of the people, and their mode of living, as well 
as their numbers, at the close of the eighteenth century. 

The population, as found at the taking of the first census by the gen- 
eral government, in 1700, was nine hundred and forty-six. In the year 
1800, the people had increased to the number of one thousand and 
ninety-two. This was a gain of one hundred and forty-six in ten years. 
There was a corresponding increase in business and value of property. 
Land was cleared by degrees, and some of the timber was worked into 
lumber, such as boards, shingles, and planks ; but the great business 
cf the town in after years, that is, the manufacture of wooden ware, 
had not yet been undertaken. " At the beginning of the present cen- 
tury," says Dr. Whiton, " Winchendon, though it had made consider- 
able progress in its material interests, yet exhibited a strong contrast 
to its present appearance. • The very last log house had disappeared ; 
but most of the dwellings were of one story, nearly all unpainted, and 
very many un-clapboarded, the abundance and excellence of the pine 
timber notwithstanding. The door-yards were covered with logs and 
litter, and it was no strange thing for the pig-sty to hold a position in 
part of the house. Of the comparatively few two-story buildings, most 
of those that had been painted at all, were red or yellow. Not more 
than one or two white houses were to be seen, white then being thought 
too expensive and pretentious, subjecting the owner of the house to 
some unpleasant criticism as trying to out-shine his neighbors. Scarce 
a house could boast of an ornamental fence, or any ornamental append- 
age whatever ; not one of Venetian blinds ; it had been thought extrav- 






HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 189 

igance. Not more than two or three papered rooms could be found in 
the town, and hardly such a thing as a carpet. Sofas, ottomans, pianos, 
were unheard of. Tea had become a common beverage, but coffee did 
not make its way into common use till some time after. The great lux- 
uries of that day were rum, and tea in female society, among whom 
was found, here and there, a tobacco-smoker. The roads were imper- 
fectly wrought, and rocky, and there were not more than two or three 
pleasure carriages in the place." This, however, was a sign of great 
advancement, since the tradition is, that the wife of the first minister, 
Mrs. Stimpson, was drawn into town, by the Templeton road, on a hand 
sled ; that Mrs. Brown, the second minister's wife, rode into town in 
an ox-cart ; and that Mrs. Pillsbury came in a chaise. This last event 
was in 1801. At this time, " many of the fields were deformed with 
rocks, stumps, decaying logs, and log-fences. Men had formerly in 
winter dug their wood from under the snow, but now began to think 
of wood-houses, and to feel able to build them. 

In addition to what is said above, in regard to dwellings in the year 
1800, the author has learned from ancient people, that about twenty 
houses were two stories in height. Some of them remain, while others 
have yielded to decay, or have been re-placed by smaller buildings. 
The Abel Wilder house, where Mr. Dexter Bruce now resides, was of 
two stories. The John Boynton house, where Mr. Cain lives at pres- 
ent, was of similar form. The Nichols tavern, half way up the hill, 
was a very large house for the country. 

There had been no very marked improvement in the schools, up to 
this time, though unquestionably some advancement had been made 
in the means of education. Some of the school-books were better than 
those used by the early settlers. Teachers were better qualified for 
their office than those who taught in the preceding generation. Yet 
the only advantage of much value which the children of 1800 had over 
those of 1764, was in the increased length of the schools. Larger appro- 
priations of money from time to time, gave the scholars greater oppor- 
tunities for mental improvement. Reading, spelling, writing and arith- 
metic, constituted, however, nearly the whole curriculum of the pu- 
pils down to the close of the period now under review. 

A great change ha'd taken place in the style of church music, and in 
the use of instruments in public worship. The citations already made 
from the Records, show that the town had favored a change from the 



190 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 

ancient hymns, and the old version of the psalms, to those of Watts. 
By a vote of the town, the church had been desired to introduce a bass 
viol into the choir. New singing boohs came into vogue, and the town 
sometimes paid the expense of supporting singing-schools. These chan- 
ges were not made without a struggle. Old usages were not lightly 
abandoned for new-fangled notions. In many places, scenes similar to 
that which occurred in Peterborough, N. H., were enacted. Though no 
such disturbance took place here, the anecdote may hd given as illus- 
trative of the times towards the close of the last century. On one occa- 
sion, when Dr. Payson, of Rindge, was preaching at Peterborough, the 
chorister, John Smith, brother of Gov. Smith, gave the key-note, on the 
pitch-pipe ; the choir began to sing, but soon became confused, and stop- 
ped; when one of the Scotch-Irish settlers, who called the bass-viol dagon, 
and the pitch-pipe the whistle, sitting in the ancient body seats near 
the desk, slowly turned his head toward the choir, and exclaimed aloud 
in the church, in his broad Scotch accent, " Mr. Johnny Smith, ye must 
blaw your whastle again." 

The first meeting-house was abandoned in the beginning of 1793. 
In the latter part of its occupancy, says Dr. Whiton, " the choristers 
were Ebenczer Sherwin and Daniel Farrar, the tunes most in vogue, 
were the old fugues of Billings and other American composers, which 
had almost driven out of use the more ancient and simple melodies sung 
by our Pilgrim Fathers. These fugues were sung here with not a su- 
perabundance of taste ; he that could make the most noise, and get 
along the fastest, bearing off the palm as the best performer. The key- 
note was sounded by a pitch-pipe which in boyhood I used to behold 
with a sort of awe as a very mysterious contrivance." But in time the 
musical instruments made their way into the sanctuary, and before the 
century came in, they were considered almost indispensable in choirs 
which made any pretensions to taste and correctness in rendering the 
musical productions of that day. 

Fashions changed in old times, though not so rapidly as now. About 
the last of the century came in vogue the Quaker bonnet, with its im- 
mense projection over the face, the very antipode of the bonnet now 
fashionable. Indeed, a bonnet is now among the antiquities ; hats and 
other head-gear having displaced bonnets almost universally. Could 
the ladies of the present day, says our author, " look in on a congrega- 



HISTORY OP WINCHENDON. 191 

tion interspersed -with Quaker bonnets, the whole scene would strike 
them as grotesque. Two or three antique wigs continued to make their 
appearance here on Sunday. How great the changes which the inter- 
vening years have ushered in ! But if some things relative to our 
predecessors provoke a smile, we are not to forget that if the circum- 
stances surrounding them were less favorable to the developement of 
taste, they were perhaps more favorable to the developement of moral 
worth. At the beginning of the century, Winchendon contained a large 
number of men and women of warm hearts, intelligent heads and kindly 
dispositions ; who, if their external appearance put forth less of preten- 
sion, were exemplars of good sense, industry, frugality, and fidelity to 
moral and religious obligations." 

Habits and customs had not become changed so much as to indicate 
a marked advance between the time of the incorporation of the town 
and the close of the century. " Homespun" was still the outward garb, 
and manners Avere but a shade less rustic than in the first generation. 
The amusements of the people, old and young, were the same as in the 
time of their fathers and mothers. " Bees," of all kinds were yet in 
vogue, and " trainings " were great days both for boys and " children 
of a larger growth." And here it may not be out of place to observe 
that there i3 no point in our history about which there is more gross 
misapprehension than this. It is difficult for many to believe that our 
predecessors of two generations back, and farther into the past, knew 
anything of the enjoyments of life. Young persons, taking their impres- 
sion from novelists and poets, suppose the people in old times were 
grave, sour-visaged and morose, and that they made it their business 
to repress every expression of youthful delight. So far has this unfilial 
misrepresentation been earned, that patient endurance of it has ceased 
to be a virtue. One cannot resist the conclusion that some of- our most 
admired writers, either have no knowledge of Puritan character, or that 
a bigoted prejudice renders them unfit to describe the noblest and 
most happy race of people who ever lived on earth. There is a posi- 
tive pleasure in turning from their untruthful pages to the noble " His- 
tory of New England," by Dr. Palfrey, who has evidently made the 
character of our ancestors a pleasant study to himself, as well as a de- 
lightful object of contemplation to us their descendants. The people 
in " old times" were a happy people. If they were not, in the language 
of Mrs. Brown, " as poor as poverty," at the close of the century, as 



192 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 



they were on her arrival in 1769, yet they were " as merry as griggs." 
In other words, they lived an industrious, upright and joyous life. 

The following list of names finds its appropriate place here between 
the two centuries. It will enable persons born since that time, to trace 
their genealogy as far back as to their father, grandfather, and it may 
be, their great-grandfather. The table may be taken as a point of de- 
parture in family history, by those whose family records do not reach 
far back into the past. It will be a great convenience to increasing 
numbers, in coming generations, who will be grateful to Mr. Luke Rice, 
from whose tenacious memory it is derived. 

The following persons were living together in Winchendon as man 
and wife in the year 1800. For convenience the names are arranged 
alphabetically. 



Name of Husband. 

Col. Benjamin Adams, 
Lt. Abicl Alger, Sen., 
David Alger, 
Eber Arnold, Sen., 
Daniel Balcom, 
Gideon Balcom, 
Benjamin Barry, 
Noah Battles, Sen., 
*Samuel Beal, 
Storr Beal, 
Capt. David Beaman, 
John Bemis, 
Andrew Benjamin, 
Thomas Bennet, Sen., 
Ebenezer Bigelow, 
Roger Bigelow, 
Levi Bixby, 
Walsingham Bosworth, 
Asa Bowker, Sen., 
Daniel Boynton, 
Lt. Joseph Boynton, 
Col. Paul Boynton, 
Robert Bradish, Jr., 
James Bradish, Sen., 
John Brooks. 
Levi Brooks, 
Amasa Brown, 
Benjamin Brown, Jr., 



Maiden Nasze op Wife. 

Zeruiah Boynton, 
Rhoda Drake, 
Sally Lathrop, 
Lucy Green, 
Mercy Maynard, 
Anna Hale, 
Jane Poor, 
Lucinda Hallowell, 
Eunice Boynton, 
Mary Leavitt, 
Polly Carter, 
Susan Saunders, 
Polly Pierce, 
Mary Pratt, 
Sally Wales, 

Widow Boynton, 
Mary Piper, 
Hannah Harwood, 
Dolly Boynton, 
Zeruiah Wilder, 
Sally Sweetzer, 
Lucy Jackson, 
Polly Moore, 
Lois Barr, 
Betsey Flint, 
Sybil Stoddard, 
Susanna Fletcher, 



"Perhaps not married quite so early as this date. 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 



193 



Name of Husband. 

Cyrus Brown, 
Hezekiah Brown, Sen., 
Rev. Joseph Brown, 
Levi Brown, 
Samuel Brown, Sen., 
Jonas Bruce, 
Oliver Buckley, 
Abiel Buttrick, Sen., 
Daniel Buttrick, 
Capt. Charles Chase, Sen., 
George Coffin, Sen., 
Henry Crooks, Sen., 
Flavel Crosby, 
John Crosby, 
Samuel Crosby, Esq., 
Abner Curtis, Sen., 
Abner Curtis, Jr., 
Moses Curtis, 
Jewett B. Darling, 
Daniel Day, 
John Day, Sen., 
Joseph Day, 
Levi Divoll, Sen., 
Alexander Dunham, 
Artemas Edmands, 
Francis Emery, 
Stephen Emery, Sen., 
Jonathan Evans, Sen., 
Eliphalet Fairbank, 
* Daniel Farrar, Sen., 
John Fessenden, Sen., 
Simeon Fisk, 
John Flagg, Sen., 
Nathan Flint, Sen., 
Thomas Flint, Sen., 
Joseph Freeman, 
Job Fry, Sen., 
John Gill, 
Calvin Goss, 
Amos Goodhue, 
John Goodhue,' 
Daniel Goodridge, Sen., 
Eliphalet Goodrjdge, 
Samuel P. Goodridge, 
David Goodridge, Sen., 
Capt. Thomas Graton, 
Thomas Greenwood, Sen., 



Maiden Name op Wife. 

Hannah Cook, 
Priscilla Marcy, 
Sarah Smith, 
Rebecca Phillips, 
Lavina Bruce, 
Lucy Taylor, 

Eunice Hey wood, 

Fairbanks, 

Hannah Stewart, 
Abigad Raymond, 
Betsey Barrett, 
Lucy Howe, 
Mehitable Locke, 
Azubah Howe, 
Ruth Hale, 
Betsey Pike, 
Betsey Benjamin, 
Deborah Murdock, 
Ambrey Bruce, 
Betsey Josclyn, 
Lucy Sherwin, 
Grace Wilder, 
Mary Hale, 
Esther Hyde, 
Eunice Philbrick, 
Lydia Kimball, 
Mehitable Sherwin, 

Ednah Boynton, 
Howard, 

Betsey Blanchard, 
Abigail Brown, 
Mehitable Brown, 
Hannah Howard, 
Parney Drake, 

Lincoln, 

Betsey Russell, 
Sally Payson, 
Mary McFarland, 
Hannah Low, 
Rebecca Snow, 
Joanna Stoddard, 
Silena Joselyn, 
Rebecca Chaplin, 
Deborah Barber, 



13 



194 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 



Name of Husband. 

Isaac Grout, Sen., 
Amos Hale, Sen., 
Asa Hale, 
Benjamin Hale, 
Jacob Hale, Sen., 
Jacob Hale, Jr., 
Dea. Moses Hale, Sen., 
Capt. Timothy Hancock, 
Samuel Hartwell, Sen., 
Eobert Houghton, 
Dea. Amos Heywood, 
Daniel Heywood, Sen., ' 
Capt. Lemuel Heywood, 
*Lieut. Levi Heywood, 
Lieut. Benjamin Hubbard, 
Ezra Hyde, Sen., 
Job Hyde, Sen., 
Samuel Johnson, 
Capt. Abel Jones, Sen., 
*Apollos Keith, 
Benjamin Kidder, 
Howard Kidder, 
Matthew Knight, 
Nathan Knight, 
Thomas Litch, » 
Aaron Marcy, 
Paul Matthews, 
Nathan Maynard, 
Daniel May, Sen., 
James Miles, 
Dea. Levi Moor, Sen., 
Ephraim Murdoch, Sen., 
James Murdoch, Sen., 
James Murdock, Jr., 
James McElwain, 
Dea. Asa Nourse, Sen., 
Lieut. Isaac Noyes, Sen., 
James Noyes, Sen., 
Samuel Noyes, Sen., 
Benjamin Nutting, 
Ephraim Parmenter, 
Eleazar Parks, 
Jacob Parks, 
Phinehas Parks, 
Oliver Parsons, 
Jairus Partridge, 
Eliot Payson, 

* Died the year before. 



Maiden Name of Wife. 

Sally Stearns, 
Sally Day, 
Sally Hancock, 
Sally Brown, 
Ruth Towne, 
Betsey Brown, 
Ruth Foster, 
Lucy Stoddard, 
Lois Hartwell, 
Sarah Jones, 

Widow Parsons, 

Hannah Fairbanks, 
Abigail Parsons, 
Beulah Buttrick, 
Rebecca Paine, 
Elizabeth Whitney, 
Elizabeth Ward, 
Susan Sanderson, 
Lucinda Heywood, 
Mary Drake, 
Ruth Howard, 
Zilpah Phelps, 

Susan Putnam, 
Jane Kennedy, 
Hulclah Stoddard, 
Ellen Gilbert, 
Lydia Butler, 
Betsey Willard, 

Parna Howe, 
Zeruiah Bisby, 
Deborah Williams, 
Polly Chaplin, 
Rebecca Whitcomb, 
Olive Fosgate, 
Sally Haven, 
Hannah Russell, 
Hannah Faulkner, 
Silence Goodridge, 
Unity Darling, 
Elizabeth Whitney, 
Hannah Chaplin, 
Betsey Stewart, 
Lois Priest, 
Betsey Goodale, 
Ruth Hale, 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 



195 



Name of Husband. 

James Payson, 

Asa Perley, 

Lieut. Dudley Perley, 

John Perley, 

William Poland, Sen., 

Daniel Poor, 

Lieut. David Poor, Sen., 

Luke Prentice. 

Dea. Samuel Prentice, Sen., 

Dea. Samuel Prentice, Jr., Esq., 

Seth Prouty, 

James Raymond, 

Jesse Raymond, 

Col. Paul Raymond, Sen., 

Lieut. Paul Raymond, Jr., 

Amos Rice, 

Lieut. Benjamin Rice, 

Capt. David Rice, Sen., 

Ebenezer Richardson, Sen., 

William Robbins, Sen., 

William Robbins, Jr., 

David Roberts, 

Peter Russell, 

Samuel Sargent, Sen., 

Ebenezer Sherwin, Sen., 

^Francis Sherwin, Sen., 

David Smith, 

Isaac Smith, 

Bartholomew Stearns, Sen., 

Amos Stevens, 

Paul Stewart, 

Isaac Stimpson, 

Luther Stimpson, Sen., 

Abel Stockwell, 

David Stoddard, Sen., 

David Stoddard, Jr., 

James Stoddard, 

Capt Joshua Stoddard, 

Leavitt Stoddard, 

Major Nathaniel Sylvester, 

Isaac Taylor, Sen., 

Dea. Desire Tolman, 

Elisha Tucker, 

Seth Tucker, Se'n., 

Jedediah Tuttle, Sen., 

Simon Tuttle, Sen., 

* Perhaps left town before 1800. 



Maiden Name of Wife. 



Widow Robbins, 

Polly Hunt, 

Hale, 

Mary Spalding, 
Betsey Brown, 
Polly Martin, 
Jane Martin, 
Susanna Wilder, 
Beulah Sawyer, 
Rebecca McElwain, 
Eunice Stearns, 
Widow Molly Gale, 
Mary Miller, 
Abigail Jones, 
Sarah Gale, 
Martha Brown, 
Ruth Budge, 
Eunice Hosmer, 
Sarah Richardson, 
Nancy Leland, 
Eunice Ware, 
Elizabeth Woodbury, 
Sally Noyes, 
Mary Darling, 
Lucy Curtis, 
Rachel Knight, 
Lydia Dodge, 
Betsey Curtis, 
Molly Raymond, 
Susan Noyes, 
Hannah Robbins, 

Sally McElwain, 

Betsey , 

Sybil Leavitt, 
Lydia Brown, 
Susan Humphrey, 
Lois Balcom, 
Ruth Hale, 
Lucy Clapp, 
Elizabeth Whitney, 
Elizabeth Howe, 
Sally Preston Howe, 
Jane Payson, 
Lucy Smith, 
Lucy Witheredge, 



196 



HISTORY OF WINCHENIVON. 



Name of Husband. 

Capt. Jacob Wales, Sen., 
Samuel Walker, Sen., 
Dea. Stephen Weston, Sen. 
Israel Whitcomb, Sen., 
Jacob Whitney, 
Hananiah Whitney, Sen., 
Joseph Whitney, 
Capt. Phinehas Whitney, 
William Whitney, 
Dr. Israel Whiton, Esq., 
Abel Wilder, Jr., 
Capt. Benjamin Wilder, 
Gardiner Wilder, 
Capt. Joseph Wilder, Sen., 
Thomas Wilder, 
Isaac Willard, 
Nathaniel Wilson, Sen., 
Col. Jacob B. Woodbury, 
Thomas Wyman, Sen., 
Thomas Wyman, Jr. 



Maiden Name of Wife 

Phebe Howard, 
Betsey Wyman, 
Susan Whitney,. 
Eunice Wilson, 
Mary Patch, 

Keyes, 

Hannah Perley,, 
Bethiah Barrett, 
Mary Mansfield, 
Dolly Crosby, 
Eunice Hale, 
Lydia Lane, 
Lucincla Bixby, 
Anna Barrett, 
Lucy Crosby, 
Sally Goodrich, 
Mary Atwell, 
Hannah Roberts, 
Betsey Bead, 
Sylvia Bowker. 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON, 197 



CHAPTER XIII.— ANNALS; 1800-1868. 

"One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh : but the 
earth abideth forever." Ecclesiastes. 

In this chapter the Annals of the town will be brought down to the 
close of one hundred years from the date of organization. Various items 
of a miscellaneous character will be inserted under this head, which do 
not belong to continuous history, but which will either throw light on 
the condition of the town, or will be interesting to individuals because 
of the connection of ancestral names with them. What may seem triv- 
ial to some persons, will be read with deep interest by others. 

1800, September 10. Granted Benjamin Adams leave to set up a 
blacksmith's shop on the meeting-house Common, west of the new pound, 
and adjoining the north line of the Common. 

November 3, Voted to raise the canopy three feet higher than it now 
is. Chose Dea. Moses Hale an agent to meet in convention to forma 
new county. 

December 1, Dea. Hale reported the doings of the convention, and 
then the town voted to dismiss the article. 

1802, March 1. Voted to build a powder-house of brick. 

1803, April 4. Chose the Selectmen a committee " to procure a 
carriage to convey corpse on to the burying-yard." 

1804, March 5. Voted to build a house " to keep the carriage in 
that the town has bought to carry corpse on." 

November 5, Left with the Selectmen, if they see proper, to make 
a place in the hearse house, for the town's stock of military stores. 

1806, November 3. Voted that the Selectmen build a place in the 
hearse house to secure the town's stock of ammunition. 

1807, March. Voted that the Selectmen provide a place for the 
maps of the State. 

August 31, An article to see if the town will make the soldiers that 
are detached in this town, any compensation, provided they are called 
into actual service. Voted " to make up" ten dollars per month. 



19S HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 

1808, March 7. Voted and chose Capt. Abel Jones, Capt. David 
Beaman, and Col. Benj. Adams, a committee to provide a sufficient 
quantity of cartridges for the soldiers, to be kept by the Selectmen for 
review at the annual training. [These were to be used in sham-fights, 
and in other ways incident to military trainings.] 

1810, May 7. The town approved the doings of the Selectmen in 
getting brandy and opium for the use of the sick. Voted to sell the 
brandy and opium to the best advantage. Passed over the article to 
see what farther method the town will take to defray any expense that 
may arise in case the spotted fever should break out in the limits of the 
town. 

1812, August 10. Voted that the town will make up the detached 
soldiers ten dollars per month, in case the General Court doth not make 
them up $10 per man. 

1813, May 1. Voted that the town clerk procure a case to keep 
his books in, and establish his office where he thinks proper. 

1814, November 7. Voted to make up to the detached soldiers from 
this town, including what the General Government gives them, $13.33 
per month. 

1815, September 11. Voted that the Selectmen "dispose of the prop- 
erty left by Rebecca Goodridge, to the best advantage of the town, all 
except the gold nubs which is to be given to the widow Goodridge, moth- 
er of the deceased." 

1815, November 7. Col. Benjamin Adams was allowed to move 
some of the horse sheds that stood in the way of his building a house. 
He was to move them as far south of his barn as the town pound, on 
condition that he should do it at his own cost, and erect a convenient 
stone horse-block, and give the town two dollars annually, and remove 
them back when the town should think proper. 

1817, March 3. An article to see if the town will grant any assist- 
ance to the town of Fitzwilliam towards building a meeting-house. 
Passed over. 

Voted that the Assessors, the present year, take a valuation in the 
town of Winchendon, of the real and personal estate, by going to each 
taxable person in said town ; to begin the first day of May. The As- 
sessors were Isaac Morse, Jacob Woodbury and Moses Hale, Esq. 

May 26, A committee was appointed to see about the boundaries of 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 199 

the Common, with the idea that certain persons were encroaching on it 
at the southeast part. The following is their report. 

" They find by the Proprietors' Book, that in the year 1762, the Proprie- 
tors voted a lot of five acres from the northwest corner of lot No. 1, in the 
south division, for a Meeting House, Training Field and Burying Ground, be- 
ginning at the northwest corner of said lot, thence southerly with the lino of 
said lot, 48 rods; thence easterly, 16-J- rods; thence northerly on a parallel 
line with the west line, 48 rods; thence westerly to the place of beginning." 

The supposed encroachments were found to be next to nothing. The 
stone post for a leading corner was erected in the northwest corner. 
The report was not accepted, for some reason, but the boundaries are 
correct. 

1818, November 2. Voted that the town cause a book-case or drawers 
to be procured, to keep the town books and records of said town. Also 
two books to record the valuation and standards of taxes. 

1819, May 10. Voted to give a bounty of one dollar for each wild- 
cat that may be killed within the limits of the town of Winchendon, and 
brought whole to the Treasurer of said town. 

1823, April 7. Reconsidered the vote passed March 2, 1772, re- 
specting building horse sheds on the meeting-house Common. 

1825, March 7. Voted to request the Court of Sessions, to cause 
a survey of the county to be made giving the county and turnpike 
roads, &c. 

April 21, Voted that the Selectmen be a committee to procure anew 
hearse and harness. 

1826, March 6. For the first time since the organization of the town, 
no appropriation was made at the annual meeting, for the support of the 
gospel. The first Congregational church was now connected with an 
independent parish, which assumed the duty of maintaining public wor- 
ship in the meeting-house on the Common. 

1827, April 2. Voted that the Assessors take a new valuation the 
present year. 

This and other valuations were destroyed when the Assessors' books 
were burned. 

1828, April \. On the question of dividing the county, the votes 
were, yeas, 32 ; nays, 34. 

1830, May 3. Voted that the Selectmen carry out the Resolve of 
the Legislature requiring towns to make survey of their territory. 



200 HISTORY OF WINCHEXDON. 

They appointed Elias Whitney, Surveyor, by whom the work was 
done. His map is considered tolerably correct as to distances and loca- 
tions, but is full of errors in respect to names of persons and places. 

Noveinber^lG, Voted to instruct our Representative, [William Brown] 
to vote not to appropriate any of our public money for the completion of 
the Bunker Hill Monument. 

1831, April 4. Voted to pay all the soldiers their poll tax, that are 
entitled to it by law. 

1831, November 14. Voted that the town Treasurer be author- 
ized to pay three dollars a head for every wild-cat that is killed in the 
town of Winchendon. 

1833, March 7. Voted that the Selectmen procure a hearse. 

1837, May 1. Voted that individuals may build horse sheds on the 
Common in any place that the Selectmen shall direct. 

1838, June 18. Chose a committee with reference to building a 
tomb for a depository of the dead in winter. 

August 20, Authorized the Selectmen to build a tomb, provided they 
can get one built for what they consider a reasonable sum. 

1839, April 1. Voted that the town pay the sexton's bills for bury- 
ing all the dead in the public burying grounds in the town. 

1840, March 2. Voted to allow the account for the expense of the 
small pox, $109.19. Allowed the account of Dr. A. Godding for vac- 
cinating inhabitants, $98.37. 

March 2, Voted to repair the bell-deck and belfry. 

1844, March 3. Voted to repair the bell. Expense of repairing, 
$120.96. Voted that the Assessors put the inhabitants upon their oaths 
as to the truth of their statements in giving their valuation. 

1847, November 29. Chose a committee to see about building a 
new Town House, or fitting up the lower part of the first Congrega- 
tional Meeting-house. 

1848, March 6. Voted not to build a Townllall, yeas, 78 ; nays, 145. 
November 28, Voted to relinquish all right and title the town may 

have, (if any,) to the first Congregational Meeting-house, to the first 
Congregational Society. 

1849, January 19. Certain rules were made respecting rabid dogs. 
They were to be restrained three months. Those running at large were 
liable to be killed. Any person for killing a rabid dog was to have a 
bounty of a dollar. 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 201 

March 20, Voted to have the bells on the First and the North Con- 
gregational churches rung at noon and in the evening. 

1850, April 15. Took action respecting guide-boards. Chose a 
committee with reference to new Town Hall. 

April 15, Voted to build a Town House to transact our town busi- 
ness in. Chose a committee of nine to purchase land, and contract for 
building Town House, subject to the approval of the town ; viz : E. 
Murdoch, Jr., Joseph White, Levi Raymond, Ezra Porter, Seth Tucker, 
Jr., Levi Parks, C. C. Alger, Levi Greenwood, C. R. Whitman. 

May 13, The town meeting was held in Mrs. Lucy Rice's barn. At 
this time, the old meeting-house was being taken down, that the mate- 
rials might be used in building a new one. 

May 21, The town meeting was held in the basement of the North 
Congregational Church. The committee on Town Hall reported, and 
by vote, were discharged after getting deeds and lease executed and 
recorded. Chose three for a building committee ; viz : Elisha Mur- 
doch, David Caswell and Sidney Fairbanks. 

May 27, Met in the basement of the North Congregational Society's 
house. Voted that the committee chosen on the 21st hist., called the 
building committee, be and are hereby instructed to fulfil the contract 
made by the town with Harrison Harwood, by finishing and completing 
the building contemplated in that contract according to the plan pre- 
sented by the committee on location and place of Town Hall. 

November 11, Met in basement, and adjourned to the newTown Hall. 

1851, March 18. The question of dividing the county came up again. 
For it, 35 ; against it, 46. 

1852, January 31. Voted to purchase a Safe for the Books and 
Papers of the town. 

May 4. The Selectmen to let the Town Hall only to such exhibi- 
tions as they may think advantageous to the town. 

1854, March 6. Chose E. Murdock, Jr., agent to oppose the di- 
vision of Worcester county. 

1855, March 25. Laid two dollars tax on dogs for license, annu- 
ally ; and voted to enforce the law in relation to dogs. 

1856, March 3, Again, the question in regard to dividing Wor- 
cester county came up, and received an emphatic answer. For a di- 
vision, 50 ; against, 190. 



202 HISTORY OF WINCHBNDON. 

1860, March 5. Committee on tombstones for Mrs. Tolman, Mrs. 
Rice, and first minister, reported. Report laid on the table. 

March 10, The Selectmen were instructed to put up guide-boards 
where needed. 

June 4, A committee of twenty-five was chosen — one or more in each 
district — to see that the laws restraining cattle from running at large, 
are carried out to their fullest extent. The following rules were adopt- 
ed, and put in force, as the people were much alarmed by the Cattle 
Disease, or Pleuro-pneumonia. 

" No cattle to be in highway, unless at work, or being driven from place 
to place. Not to be suffered to stop in highway to feed, or for any other purpose. 

To use all legal measures to prevent cattle from being driven into or out of 
town. When cattle are driven, owners on the road to bo notified. 

No cattle on the line of the road to be allowed to come near them. 

The citizens agree to co-operate, and give notice of any violations of law. 

Voted that it is desirable that the Legislature now in session, take such ac- 
tion in reference to the cattle disease, called Pleuro-pneumonia, as to give cities 
and towns power to forbid neat cattle from entering, leaving, or passing through 
their bounds. That Selectmen may have power to isolate, kill, or apply rem- 
edies, (as they may think proper,) to any cattle within their limits, which may 
be suspected, or known to have been exposed to said disease." 

June 18, The Selectmen issued a notice, in accordance with a spe- 
cial act of the Legislature, forbidding all neat cattle, coming into or go- 
ing from the town. 

All neat cattle turned into the highway, except to work, to be driv- 
en from place to place, without stopping for any purpose. Appointed 
twenty-six men to assist in carrying out the law. 

Some may think these details have been copied at too great length ; 
but those who remember the panic caused by the cattle disease, at this 
time, would not sanction the omission of a full report of the action of 
the town on the subject. It was, for weeks, the subject of general anx- 
iety. The alarm was universal. In addition to other precautions, in 
3ome cases, the fields were fenced several rods from the highway. That 
is, an inner fence was put up, to keep the cattle from getting near the 
road. But the alarm soon subsided. 

1862, March meeting. Voted to request the Selectmen to draw an 
order upon the town Treasurer in favor of Hon. Giles H. Whitney, and 
present the same to him for his gentlemanly and faithful performance of 



HISTORY OP WINCHENDON. 203 

the duties of Moderator at the annual March meeting. The order was 
for $10. 

1863, April 27. The following was moved by E. Murdock, Jr. : 

" Inasmuch as Esq. Whitney said to us at the commencement of this meet- 
ing, that it was probably the last March meeting that he should be with us, 
he would accept the office of Moderator, and has most faithfully filled that of- 
fice, I now offer the following resolution : Resolved, that we now express our 
most sincere thanks to Esq. Whitney for the able, impartial and patient man- 
ner in which he has presided over this meeting, as also all others when called 
to the Chair, since he has been with us. And that the Selectmen be request- 
ed to pay him from the treasury of the town, the sum of twenty dollars, as a 
small compensation for his services." 

1864, April 25. Chose a committee to buy a new hearse — not to 
exceed $500. The committee were JohnH. Fairbanks, G. B. Parker 
and Isaac M. Murdock. 

1865, May 20. The Selectmen together with John H. Fairbanks, 
were instructed to purchase a suitable Safe for the use of the Town Clerk. 
The matter of Safes for the use of the Selectmen and Assessors, was 
left to the same committee. 



204 HISTORY OF WLNCHENDON. 



CHAPTER XIV. — EDUCATION SINCE 
THE YEAR 1800. 

" Close in the hollow of yon hill 

The district school-house wins the view, 
"Where jabbering urchins 'gainst their will 

In swingiug rows their tasks pursue. 
And there's the turf on which they play 

And tan their open-collared necks ; 
And there's the brook where every day 

Their paper barks make sad shipwrecks 
Of little hopes, that now endure 

The coming world in miniature." 

Rev. J. H. Nichols. 

We resume the history of educational progress in the town since the 
opening of the nineteenth century. As in the former chapter on this 
subject, notice will be taken of the arrangement of districts, the build- 
ing of school houses, the appointment of committees, the addition of 
new branches of learning, the increase of appropriations, and the gen- 
eral improvement of the schools. 

The appropriation for schools, for the year 1800, was £80, or $266, 
66. There was a gradual increase in the sum set apart for the pur- 
pose of education. 

On the 7th of March, 1801, the northwest sckool squadron was " al- 
lowed to appropriate their part of the school money towards building 
a school-house, if the squadron can agree to it." 

It is the testimony of tradition, supported by the written words of 
Dr. Whiton, that the cause of education received a great impulse in 
the beginning of the century, from Edward Payson, a son of Rev. 
Dr. Payson, of Rindge, N. H., and a student of Harvard. He taught 
at the Centre, and wrought with the same energy which afterwards 
made him so successful as a teacher, and so celebrated as a divine. 

SECTION 1. — THE EINES OF TlIE SCHOOE DISTRICTS. 

On the 6th of April, of this year, a committee of eight persons was 



HISTORY OF WTNCHENDON. 205 

chosen " to draw the lines of the school districts." Dea. Moses Hale, 
James McElwain, Abel Jones, Ebenezer Sherwin, David Goodridge, 
Paul Raymond, Ezra Hyde and Jacob B. Woodbury were chosen. The 
vote was re-considered, and then the town re-considered the re-con- 
sideration. In other words, the committee remained. It is needless 
to give the exact boundaries, or " lines" of the districts, as they were 
sixty-four years since, but it may be interesting to some to know where 
the old school-houses were located. The committee reported on the 
4th of May, and their arrangement, which was as follows, substantially, 
was accepted. 

" 1. East district. The school-house was where house No. 5 now stands. 
2. South-cast district. The house stood where that numbered 6 stood until 
the district was abolished. 3. South district. The house was near the pres- 
ent residence of Mr. Carter, south of the pond. 4. South-west district. The 
house was south of Denison pond, near the corner of the road by Miss Sylvia 
Howard's. It accommodated all the children of New Boston. 5. West dist- 
rict. The house was north of the junction of the roads west of the bridge and 
causeway, beyond the Caswell place ; perhaps half way up to Levi Park's. 
6. North-west district. The house was on the Fitzwilliam road, some forty 
rods north of the present No. 2 school-house. 7. North district. The house 
was ten or a dozen rods east of Jedediah Morse's farm-house, — the old Dan- 
iel Boynton place. 8. The middle district was the centre of the town. The 
west district included nearly all of what is now Waterville, reaching to Pren- 
tice hill." 

In 1808, the appropriation for schools was five hundred dollars. This 
sum was continued till 1819, when five hundred and fifty dollars were 
granted. 

Previous to the year 1809, the town chose annually a committee 
equal in number to the districts, whose duties were simply prudential. 
If a teacher was to be examined, or a school to be visited, the duty de- 
volved on the Congregational minister. He was recognized by law as 
the proper person to perform this office, and being supported by the 
town, he made no charge for this service. He was expected, in addi- 
tion to inspecting the schools, to give religious instruction, catechise 
the children in regard to the great truths of Christianity, and in gen- 
eral, to exert the best possible influence over the young. 

On the 10th of April, this year, the town chose a committee of three, 
viz : Dr. William Parkhurst, Mr. Moses Hale, Jr., and Mr Aaron Green- 



206 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 

wood, " whose duty it shall be, with the assistance of the minister, ex 
officio, to inspect the schools at the commencement and termination." 
In the year 1811, this subject came up again in an article to see if the 
town " will choose a committee, whose duty it shall be, with the assist- 
ance of the minister," to examine teachers and inspect schools. The 
article was passed over. 

On the first of April, it was voted that Robert Houghton have his 
school-money by his " giving bonds that it shall be laid out for the ben- 
efit of his children." He lived in the extreme north-east part of the 
town, as yet without a passable road to the school-house. The same 
privilege was allowed to him for several years. 

This seems to be the proper place to notice one of the few natives 
of the town who have aspired to authorship. There are those who still 
remember Samuel Litch, as one of their school-masters. He was 
a son of the Mr. Litch who took the lead here in the time of Shays. 
He was quite noted in this vicinity, as a teacher, and contributed his 
part to enlarge the circle of learning. In 1814,* he published a work 
with the following title : " An Astronomical and Geographical Cate- 
chism, for the use of Common Schools and Private Persons ; By Sam- 
uel Litch, Author of a Concise Treatise on Rhetoric," &c. The motto 
on the title page was in these words : " Geography is necessary to the 
understanding of that connection which this Globe has with the plan- 
etary system, and with all the wonderful works of God." The book 
was printed by Salmon Wilder, of Jaffrey, N. H. It was bound in 
board, and contained 118 pages, about two inches by four. The work 
is very comprehensive, treating of " universal, particular, natural, po- 
litical and astronomical geography." It embraces a description of the 
" erth," and the " hevenly bodies." Winds, tides, the " atmosfere," 
magnetism, light, elipses and electricity, are among the topics. In 
like manner, we read of governments, religions, races, &c. The au- 
thor defines an " iland," an " istmus," and an " oshun." He quotes 
the opinions of " wise filosofers," and in short, crowds a vast amount of 
interesting information into a narrow space. His " noledg" was fully up 
to the time when he wrote, though his spelling proved the need of Web- 
ster. He treats of topics which our scholars now find expanded into 
several volumes, but it is only fair to acknowledge that he deserves 
credit for his information and his method, as well as for his enterprise 



HISTORY -OF WINCHENDON. 207 

in attempting to enlarge the field of study. His little book* was doubt- 
less the cause of much pleasure and improvement to the youth of Win- 
chendon a half century since. 

SECTION 2. — AN EFFORT TOWARDS IMPROVEMENT. 

In 1816, the number of inhabitants had so increased in the region 
of Waterville, that John Kilburn and others wanted a new school dist- 
rict. A committee reported in favor of granting their request one 
year, " so far as receiving their school money is concerned." 

A committee was appointed on the 25th of March, consisting of the 
following persons, viz : Daniel Henshaw, Esq., Dr. William H. Cutler, 
Jacob Woodbury, William Brown and Moses Hale, Esq., to see " what 
regulation is necessary in the schools." On the 6th of May, they of- 
fered the following report, which was doubtless from the pen of Esq. 
Henshaw. 

" The education of the rising generation is an object of the first importance. 
On this will principally depend the morality of the public, the stability of our 
republican form of government, and the welfare and prosperity of the com- 
munity. Wherever knowledge is generally diffused, the people are free from 
that liability to deception, imposition and error, which is sure to attend them 
where ignorance prevails. Morality and pure religion too are often found the 
companions of knowledge and correct education. 

The advantage of schooling in this country, and especially in this Com- 
monwealth, and the State of Connecticut, is said to be superior to that of any 
part of the world, and may be named among the greatest blessings of our 
common country. But the committee, while impressed with the importance 
of literature to personal happiness, and the welfare of the community, regret 
to state that there appears to have been less progress made in the schools in 
this town than is found in many other places. The causes of which appear to 
be various. Want of money to procure sufficient instruction may be consid- 
ered one of the leading causes. The sum of money usually granted by the 
town, appears to be quite inadequate to the purpose. It requires some length 
of time for scholars to learn the rules of the school, the mode of instruction, 
and to become inured to study, before they make much improvement. Hence 
the latter part of the school is much the most valuable. There are four or five 
months in the cold season of the year, which to farmers are considered leisure 



* The copy before me has been preserved by Mr. Luke Rice more than 
fifty years. 



203 HISTORY OP WINCHENDON. 

months, which cannot be spent by their children in any other way to so great 
advantage as in schooling. Your committee would suggest the propriety of 
raising money enough by the town for at least three months schooling in the 
winter or cold season of the year, and three months in the summer season in 
every school district. 

Another important consideration is the instructor ; and this ought to be a 
person not only of sufficient learning, but of correct morals. For in vain would 
it be for a master to attempt to instill into the minds of his pupils good mor- 
als, while his own life and conduct were at variance with his precepts. This 
latter important, we might say indispensable requisition, is too little attended to. 

Setting up the master's board, to boarding him at a remote part of the dist- 
rict, is a barbarous practice and ought to be abandoned. 

The mode of providing wood is a very great defect attending our schools. 
It is a vulgar, but very true maxim, that what is everybody's business, is no- 
body's. Where no one is compelled to do his duty, it is not always the case 
that all do it. On the contrary it often happens that many neglect it. The 
school suffers and sometimes stops for the want of wood. As our laws are si- 
lent on this subject, it is difficult to point out any method of providing wood 
by the individuals of a district. What seems the most eligible mode is to have 
the wood provided by an individual, who should bid off the same at the low- 
est price per cord, and have the same examined "and measured by an inspec- 
tor of wood to be chosen by the district. 

To have the same kind of classical books, and one uniform mode of instruc- 
tion in all the districts, would be a great improvement. The practice of schol- 
ars reading the Bible at least once a day, cannot be too highly recommended. 
A reverence for this holy volume, and a belief of the great truths it contains, 
cannot be too early inculcated and riveted in the tender minds of children. 
Indeed there is no book which contains such fine specimens of sublimity and 
eloquence. 

The other books usually read in our schools are all good school books, but 
there appears to be too great a diversity. Were it necessary they would desig- 
nate the following as the most approved, viz : Murray's English Grammar, 
Adams' Arithmetic, Scott's Lessons, Art of Beading, and Perry's Spelling 
Book. 

The practice of distributing presents to the most distinguished scholars, has 
been proved to be a very powerful incentive to study ; and to have every school 
visited regularly near the beginning and close, by the Selectmen, or. by a com- 
mittee chosen for the purpose, which would perhaps be preferable, would be 
an advantage. All which is respectfully submitted." 

Several of these suggestions were acted upon by the town at once. 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 209 

A committee of three was chosen to inspect the schools, for one year ; 
viz: Daniel Henshaw, Esq., Dr. William H. Cutler, and Moses Hale, 
Esq. At the same time, it was voted that two dollars of the school 
money in each district be laid out by the committee to inspect the schools, 
as premiums to encourage the scholars in learning. It was also voted 
to recommend to the several school committee-men, to purchase the books 
recommended by the report of the committee for the regulation of schools. 

The persons chosen to visit schools in 1817, were Jacob Woodbury, 
Joseph Jewett and Lowell Goodridge. It should be borne in mind, 
that the town also chose, annually, a prudential committee-man for each 
district. 

In 1818, at the annual meeting, March 2, a committee of five was 
chosen " to regulate the school books, and inspect the schools, with the 
minister, the ensuing year." The committee were Horatio G. New- 
comb, Esq., Samuel Prentice, Moses Hale, Esq., Daniel Henshaw, Esq., 
and Jacob Woodbury. At a meeting held on the 6th of April, the fol- 
lowing step was taken. 

" Voted that the school committee be directed to give a certificate in wri- 
ting to the Selectmen, how much money they have laid out for schooling in 
each district, and how much they gave a month for their teachers, and what 
a week for board; and that the Selectmen shall not give them their orders till 
they produce said certificate. And that the Selectmen lay said certificate be- 
fore the town at their annual March meeting, so that the town may know how 
their school money is expended." 

In 1819, the town chose a committee, — H. G. Newcomb, Daniel 
Henshaw, Ezra Hyde, Jr., William H. Cutler, and Jacob Woodbury 
— to inspect the schools ; and directed that they " attend with the min- 
ister to examine the masters and mistresses respecting their qualifica- 
tions, when requested by the minister, and recommend such books into 
school as they think best." 

The next year, 1820, the appropriation for schooling was cut down 
to $500 ; the committee was partially changed, by putting Dr. Mat- 
thias Spalding and Lieut. Luke Parks, in the place of Messrs. Cutler 
and Hyde. Several families in what is now Spring Village district, 
were set off to the north district. These were- William Tolman, James 
Martin, Seth Pfouty, and Nathan Wood. As there was no road from 
their houses to the north school-house, until several years later, the chil- 

14 



210 HISTORY OF WINCHENBOff. 

dren must have gone " across lots." Probably there was a bridle or a 
cart path through the woods. 

In 1821, the Waterville school district was formed. The families in 
it were those of Jacob Hale, Daniel Kale, Jonas B radish, Jr., Nathan- 
iel Hale, Jacob Hale, Jr., Asa Hyde, Benj. Fry, Alpheus Guy, Ste- 
phen Emery, Richard Thomas, John Newhall, Phinehas Ball, Asa Hale, 
Phinehas Ball, Jr., Thomas Kimball, William Robbins, Jr., Stillman 
Hale and Lewis Robbins. 

It will not be necessary to give the names of the school committee 
from year to year. There was constant change in the names except in 
the case of the minister. -The Rev. Eber L. Clark had now taken the 
place of Mr. Pillsbury. The gentlemen who were on the committee, 
from time to time, between 1820 and 1830, were, in addition to those 
already mentioned, Messrs. James M. Fuller, Thomas Bennet, Jr., Luke 
Heywood, George Alger, Moses M. Reed, William Brown, Reuben 
Hyde, Reuben Harris, Richard Stuart, William Tolman, Dr. Alvah 
Godding, Gilman Day, Jacob Wales, Foxwell N. Thomas and Elisha 
Murdock. Some of these were on the committee but a year or two ; 
others, many years in succession. In the year 1S26, the committee con- 
sisted of eleven ; generally, of three or five. 

In 1828, for the first time, the town omitted to choose the pruden- 
tial committee, and voted that each school district choose their school 
agent in a district meeting appointed for that purpose. This practice 
of allowing the districts to choose agents to spend the town's money, 
when they were not accountable to the town, was continued for nearly 
forty years. 

In 1829, Elisha Murdock was put on the school committee. With 
the exception of a few years when he was absent, teaching school, he 
was a member of the committee until he resigned in the year 1863. The 
appropriation for schooling, this year, was $000. It was continued at 
the same figure for several years. 

SECTION 8.- — NEW ARRANGEMENT OF DISTRICTS. 

The population had increased to such a degree, and become so dis- 
tributed, that a new arrangement of districts had become necessary. 
At an adjournment of the March meeting, April 4, 1831, it was voted 
that the Hale school district — No. 9, Waterville — have an equal share 



HISTORY OP WINCHENDON. 211 

of the school money with the other districts in town. This made nine 
' districts. How the school-house was built, is not specified in the Rec- 
ords. The author has been informed that the house was built by sub- 
scription. 

On the 11 th of May, a committee of one man from each school dis- 
trict was chosen, " to see if any alterations in any of the school districts 
are necessary, and if any, what alterations, and report at th^adjourn- 
ment of this meeting." The committee were as follows, the number in- 
dicating the district to which the member belonged. ' 1. Col. Benjamin 
Adams; 7. Capt. Israel Whitcomb ; 5. Joseph Whitney; 3. Capt. 
John Forristall; 10. Capt. Joseph Bobbins ; 2. Ephraim Murdock. 
Esq. ; 9. Richard Stuart ; (3. Jacob Woodbury ; 8. Capt. George Al- 
ger. • These numbers are given as they are known to the present gen- 
eration, and printed on Whitney's map. There could not have been 
a No. 10, as there were but nine districts. This committee made a re- 
port, which the town did not adopt ; but the matter could not rest, be- 
cause there was need for more accommodation. 

Accordingly in 1832 it was voted " to set off the inhabitants of the 
Spring Village, and others, into a separate school district, with the same 
privileges as the other districts in town." This made the number of 
districts equal to ten, and no alteration has since been made, except the 
formation of No. 11 , and the discontinuance of No. 6. The final arrange- 
ment will be given on a subsequent page. 

In 1833, the sum devoted to schooling was raised to $700, The 
same sum was granted the next year, when it was voted, that the school 
committee, — Messrs. Clark, R. Harris and Elisha Murdock, " visit all 
the schools in town, and that they be paid a reasonable price for their 
services." This action was probably prompted by the Act of the Legis- 
lature, requiring that schools should be visited as often as once a month, 
and providing for their pay. Erom this time, school inspection became 
more efficient. 

In 1834, June 12, a committee of one in each district was chosen " to 
examine the bounds of the several school districts, and ascertain wheth- 
er the town is lawfully districted ; if it is not, to district anew. This 
committee reported, and on the first of September, the districts were 
numbered as they have stood ever since, with the exception that No. 



212 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 

8 was, in 1839, divided into two, one of which was No. 11, and that 
No. 6 was discontinued in the year 1853. More correctly, it was sus- 
pended. 

In 1837, it was voted to divide the school money, $700, equally 
among the several school districts. 

At a meeting held April 1, 1839, the prudential committee of the 
several £hool districts, were authorized to contract with teachers for 
their respective schools. The sum devoted to schools was $ 900. 

The following gentlemen served on the school committee more or less, 
from 1830 to 1840 : Rev. E. L. Clark, D. O. Morton, Warren Cooper, 
and Richard Swazey, Doct. Fay, and Messrs. William Brown, Elisha 
Murdock, Reuben Harris, Levi Hancock, Warham Rand, and Luther 
Richardson. 

SECTION 4. — NEW DIVISION OF SCHOOL MONEY. 

At the annual meeting, March 2, 1840, the town voted to divide the 
money appropriated to schools, in the following manner : " Divide one- 
half of the money raised for the support of schools equally among the 
several districts in town, and the other half according to the number of 
scholars in each district, between the age of 4 and 21 years. The next 
year it was changed to 4 and 16 years, and the scholars were to be num- 
bered on the first of May, by the joint action of the school and pruden- 
tial committees. This year $ 1000 were appropriated for schools. The 
same sum was continued a few subsequent years. 

In 1844, $1100 were granted for education. At the March meeting, 
the question of dividing the money came up again, when a committee 
of one from each of the eleven school districts was chosen " to investi- 
gate the subject of the division of the school money ; said committee to 
report at the adjournment of this meeting. Chose the following per- 
sons from the districts as they are numbered : 1. Benjamin Wilder ; 
2. Elisha Murdock ; 3. Seth Tucker, Jr.; 4. Joseph Watson; 5. Eb- 
enezer Butler; 6. Jacob Woodbury; 7. William Brown; 8. Luke 
Rice; 9. Moses Hancock; 10. Edward Loud; 11. Joel Sibley. At 
a meeting on the 19th of March, remarks were heard from several mem- 
bers of the committee. The matter was adjourned to the first of April, 
when the following Report was presented. It was mainly prepared by 
Messrs. Brown and Murdock, who had served on the school committee 



HISTORY OP WINCHENDON. 213 

many years. It is given here, although the plan is now superseded, 
because it illustrates the character of the town. The design was to give 
each child in the town an equal chance, and it certainly was as fair an 
arrangement as ever came under the notice of the writer. By it, the 
districts that were favored with the greatest pecuniary ability, helped 
the weaker districts to enjoy equal school privileges. The Report was 
read, when the town, on the 16th of April, voted to adopt it, as follows : 

" A portion of your committtee have attended to the duty assigned them, 
and agreed upon the following Report. 

That the money raised by the town for the support of schools, be divided 
among the several districts according to the number of scholars, in the man- 
ner following, viz : 

That each district numbering less than 40 scholars, be allowed to draw for 
45 scholars. 

That each school district numbering between 40 and 50 scholars, be allowed 
to draw for 50 scholars. 

That each school district numbering from 50 to 90 scholars, draw for their 
whole number. 

That each school district numbering over 90 scholars, draw for 90 scholars 
only, unless their number exceeds 100 scholars, in which case they shall draw 
for their whole number ; and that the amount received from the Massachusetts 
School Fund, be divided equally among the several school districts as formerly." 

The town then voted to divide the school money agreeable to the 
report of the committee. This arrangement, with slight modifications, 
remained till the districts were abolished. 

At a meeting held on the first of April, an effort to divide the sec- 
ond district, and call the new one No. 12, was defeated. This propos- 
al was renewed on the 16th, and again defeated. The people had be- 
gun to get an idea of graded schools. 

In 1846, the town granted $1200 for schools, besides the sum re- 
ceived from the State. In 1848, the appropriation for schools was 
$1500. In 1849, the sum of $15, to help district No. 4 defray their 
expense for a school district library, was granted. 

The following were on the committee between 1840 and 1850. Rev. 
Messrs. Rice, Dunn, Pettee, Marvin, Tracy, Bullard, and Messrs. Mur- 
dock, Richardson, Godding, Brown," Moses Hancock, Emerson Whit- 
ney, John C. Eddy, Abel E. Parks, and Henry Perley. Some were 
chosen for a single year, and others continuously. 



214 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON'. 

The subject of abolishing the districts was referred to a committee, 
who reported to a meeting held on the 13th of March, 1852, " 1, that, 
in their opinion, it is not expedient to alter the limits of districts No. 
2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 10, and 11 ; 2, that jSTo. G should be abolished, and its 
inhabitants should be set to 1, 5 and 7." The grant for schools was cut 
down to $1400. 

SECTION 5. — HIGH SCHOOL. 

The first distinct movement for a High School was made in 1851, 
when, on the 10th of November, on motion of Rev. A. P. Marvin, a 
committee of fifteen, one at least in each district, was raised, to take 
the subject of a High School into consideration. The committee con- 
sisted of the following persons. Rev. John Storrs, Rev. A. P. Marvin, 
Messrs. Edward Loud, Stillman Hale, Amos Wheeler, E. 0. Tyler, 
Elisha Beaman, Joseph White, Ebenezer Butler, Jacob Woodbury, 
William Brown, C. C. Alger, Moses Hancock, Levi Parks and Joel 
Sibley. The committee reported on the 31st of January, 1852. The 
Report on the subject of a High School, prepared mainly by Rev. John 
Storrs, was long and interesting. No action was taken by the town at 
this meeting. 

It was doubted by some whether there were families enough in the 
town to lay it under obligation, by law, to support a High School. In 
order to settle this point, one of the committee went over the town care- 
fully, and found that the families numbered considerably over five hun- 
dred. This fact was brought before the town, at the proper time. 

At a meeting on the 26th of May, 1852, the Report of the High 
School committee, and a substitute presented by Mr. Marvin, were re- 
jected, and the matter was indefinitely postponed. But the project would 
not stay postponed, and it came up again on this wise. Ephraim Mur- 
dock, Esq., had erected a building called the Winche-ndon Academy, 
in the year 1843, which had been used, without charge, for academical 
purposes, about ten years. Many of the youth belonging to the town, 
and quite a number from other places, had here enjoyed good advan- 
tages for mental improvement. The first teaclier, under whom the build- 
ing began to be used as an Academy, in the autumn of 1843, was Mr. 
John G. Giles, a graduate of Dartmouth College. He was followed,, 
in succeeding years, by Mr. Levi O. Stevens, of Burlington College, 
Mr. Stephen F. Kellogg and Mr. Charles L. Brace, of Yale Collegey 




CO 

m 






HISTORY OF WINCHENJDOX. 215 

&nd Mr. A. II. Merriam, of Dartmouth College. After him, came the 
Rev. Mr. Willniarth, an accurate scholar, in the modern as well as an- 
cient languages. Mr. Kellogg is a prominent lawyer and public man 
in Connecticut. Mr. Brace has a wide reputation as an author and 
philanthropist. All were fkithful to their duties. In 1848, Mr. Hyde 
wrote as follows of the Aca'demy, in his History. 

■" The benefits of the institution arc already manifest. Many hundreds, of 
both sexes, have already derived great advantage from it ; and the desire for 
a higher and more thorough education has been excited in many a youthful 
breast. If it shall be sustained aeaovding to its praiseworthy design, it will be 
the source of manifold blessings to the commuuity." 

A view of the Academy may be seen on another page. It is 30 by 
40 feet, and two stories in height. A boarding house was also erected, 
to be for the convenience of scholars from other places. The cost of 
both buildings was between three and four thousand dollars. 

The design of Mr. Murdoch was liberal and praiseworthy. When 
■the law was passed requiring towns containing five hundred families, 
or twenty-five hundred inhabitants, to support a High School, it was seen 
that an Academy would not be needed ; whereupon Mr. Murdoch in- 
serted a provision in his will, by which the Academy building was left 
to the town of Winchendon, on condition that it should be used for ed- 
ucational purposes. 

In view of this will, the testator having departed this life, a commit- 
tee of five was appointed on the 30th of April, 1853, " to look into the 
will of E. Murdoch, Esq., respecting the Winchendon Academy." They 
reported on the 25th of May, when it was voted " to accept and adopt 
the proposition made by Ephraim Murdoch, Esq., the testator, in his 
will, and establish a school." It was moved to reconsider this vote ; 
but the motion was negatived. The way was now prepared for the es- 
tablishment of a High School, and accordingly, on the 3d of August, 
the town, acting on an article " to see if the town will establish and main- 
tain a High School," it was voted "that the school committee be instruct- 
ed to procure a teacher in order to commence a term of school in the 
spring." At the annual meeting, March 6, 1854, upon motion, it was 
voted to appropriate $125, for supporting the spring term of the High 
School, to be expended by the school committee. At this time, the first 
term of the school was in session, and since that date, the children of 



216 HISTORY OP WINCHENDON. 

the town have had the advantage of a good High School without inter- 
ruption. In furtherance of this object, a vote was passed on the 3d of 
April, as follows : 

" To provide a High School for all the children of the town thirteen years 
of age, and upwards, for a term of ten weeks, commencing in September, and 
another term of ten weeks, commencing not far from the first of December, of 
the present year. Provided, that if those scholars who are of the requisite age, 
are not numerous enough to fill the school, younger children may be admitted 
at the discretion of the committee." 

A grant of $200 was made for the support of the High School. It 
was then voted that a committee of eleven, (one from each of the schools 
in the town,) in addition to the school committee, be appointed to ma- 
ture a town school system, with all necessary details. The school com- 
mittee were Messrs. A. P. Marvin, Elisha Murdock and Henry Per- 
lcy. The members from the districts were as follows : 1. John Storrs ; 
2. Ephraim Murdock, Jr., and Alvah Godding; 3. Seth Tucker, Jr., 
4. Maynard Partridge ; 5. Ebenezer Butler ; 7. Lincoln Balcom ; 8. 
C.C.Alger; 9. Ezra Porter; 10. Reuben Harris ; 11. Minot Patch. 
It was also voted " That $75 be taken from No. 2, $20 from No. 3, 
and $20 from No. 9, and appropriated for the support of the High 
School." This was done because these three districts, being contigu- 
ous to the High School, derived the greatest advantage from it. At the 
same meeting, Rev. John Storrs and B. O. Tyler, Esq., were added 
to the school committee. 

The enlightened liberality of Esq. Murdock deserved grateful rec- 
ognition from the town, whereupon, on motion of the chairman of the 
school committee, the following preamble and resolutions were unani- 
mously adopted. 

" Whereas, the late Ephraim Murdock, Esq., in his last will and testament, 
bequeathed to the town the building known as the " Winchendon Academy," 
in order that it mioitt be used for a Hijdi School for the benefit of all the 
children of the town, of suitable age and qualifications, therefore, 

Resolved, in full town meeting, that the aforesaid bequest be and is hereby 
received, according to the intention in which it was made, to be used in ac- 
cordance with the intention of the testator. 

Resolved, that the late Ephraim Murdock, Esq., by his far-sighted liber- 



HISTORY OF WINCHEXDON. 217 

ality and generosity, as evinced in making the aforesaid bequest, merits the 
grateful respect and remembrance of the inhabitants of this town." 

SECTION 6. — TOWN SCHOOL SYSTEM. 

On the 18th of November, the committee appointed to mature a 
town school system, reported the following plan, which was adopted. 

" 1. Resolved, that henceforth the school system of this town, shall con- 
sist of the usual district schools, and a High School. 

2. That the High School shall be provided with teachers competent to give 
instruction in the languages, as well as in the higher branches of an English 
education. 

3. That the High School, as well as the district schools, shall be for the 
benefit of the children and youth of the town exclusively, excepting at such 
times as the school committee shall think it for the interest of the school to ad- 
mit scholars from other places. xVnd at such times, they shall have the power 
to do so. 

4. That the interests of education require the appropriation of $1800 for 
the support of the schools during the ensuing year. 

5. That $600, more or less, ought to be appropriated for the support of 
the High School. 

G. That the remainder, with the money from the State School Fund, be 
applied for the support of the district schools. 

7. That the division of money shall be according to the existing plan, with 
this exception, viz: that $50 be taken from district No. 2, $10 from No. 3. 
and $20 from No. 4, and divided among the other districts equally." 

The reason for this last provision was this. Districts 2 and 3 being 
near the High school, their children derived the greatest benefit from 
it ; while No. 4, or Spring Village, was enabled to keep its school in 
session several weeks longer than the other districts, because it drew 
money for sixty or seventy scholars. It was only fair to deduct some- 
thing from its share, according to the old plan. 

In August, 1853, the Selectmen were directed to paint the Acade- 
my building, and put it in good repair. Also, to fence in and repair 
around the Academy. 

At the March meeting, in 1855, the town granted $1800 for edu- 
cation, according 1 to the above recommendation. At this meeting there 
was much excitement about the school committee. Two of the com- 
mittee, Messrs. Murdock and Marvin, were especially obnoxious be- 



218 HISTORY OF WINCTIENDON. 

cause they had not fallen in with the measures of the " American," 
or " Know-nothing" party, and declined to require the children of Ro- 
man Catholic families to read the Protestant version of the Bible, or 
be excluded from the schools. They followed a course which was af- 
terwards substantially adopted by the Legislature, and has been in op- 
eration ever since, with the general approbation of the people of the 
State. At the time, however, the two members of the committee above 
named, were subject to much unpleasant censure, and even odium. At 
the election, the following gentlemen were chosen, viz : Rev. Silas 
Piper, Rsv. A. Baldwin, E. S. Merrill and Bethuel Ellis, Esqrs. .Air. 
Murdock was re-elected -by a small majority. He and Mr. Ellis de- 
clined to serve. Whereupon the town, after considerable discussion in 
open meeting and privately, re-elected Messrs. Murdock and Marvin, 
and the excitement subsided. The affair is referred to here, because 
it exhibits a phase of the times. 

In 1858, $2000 wore granted for schools ; of which $575 were for 
the High School. It was also voted that the prudential committee 
should not employ the school teachers. 

In 185D, the grant for schools was raised to ^2200, and the com- 
mittee were instructed to build a wood-house and privy, for the use of 
the High School. Messrs. A. W. Buttrick, and George B. Raymond 
were added to the committee. 

The following persons were on the committee between 1850 and 
1860 : Rev. Messrs. John Storr3, A. Baldwin, Silas Piper, B. F. 
Clarke, T. II. Dorr, and A. P. Marvin, and Messrs. Eiisha Murdock, 
Edwin S. Merrill, D. L. Morrill, and Isaac M. Murdock, besides a few 
others mentioned in preceding pages. 

The grant for schools in the years 1860 and 1861, was the same as 
in the preceding year, 82200. In 1862, the second year of the war, 
when many were out of employment, and money was scarce, the ap- 
propriation was reduced to $1600, but as wages were somewhat lower 
than usual, the schools, including the High School, were kept in session 
nearly as long as usual. 

In the spring of 1863, Mr. Murdock, on_ account of illness, resigned 
his office as a member of the school committee. No man since the in- 
corporation of the town, unless possibly Rev. Joseph Brown, had ever 
served so long as a member of the committee ; none had ever been more 
faithful in the performance of duty, or felt a deeper interest in the 



niSTOHY OF WIXCHEXDON. 219 

welfare of the young. It was fitting, therefore, that the town should 
depart from its usual course so far as to pass a resolution expressive of 
its sense of Mr. Murdoch's services. At a meeting held on the 6th of 
April, his resignation having been reluctantly accepted, on motion of 
one of his colleagues, it was unanimously 

" Resolccd, that the thanks of the town be rendered to the Hon. Elisha 
IVIurdock, for his faithful and acceptable services as a member of the school 
committee during the term of twent y-six years ; and that this vote be entered 
upon the records by the town clerk." 

The mover offered a few remarks, in which he said, in substance, 
that Mr. Murdoch deserved the thanks of the town for his long-contin- 
ued and faithful service as a member of the school committee. lie 
had been associated with him about nineteen years, arid in all that time 
there had not been a word, and probably not a thought, of difference 
between them, in relation to the schools. Mr. Murdoch was a man of 
cautious but independent mind, accustomed to think for himself, and 
so was a valuable associate. Though a man of large business, which 
engrossed his time and periled his health, no occasion could be recalled 
when he failed to meet any exigency which required his attention. Be- 
sides visiting the schools, and examining teachers, as the law required, 
he was ever ready to leave his business, at a moment's notice, if there 
were trouble in any school, however remote, which demanded his pres- 
ence, lie shirked no responsibility, and never failed to sustain his as- 
sociates when exposed to undeserved censure. He loved the children, . 
set them a good example, and without ostentation or pretence, did much 
to promote their happiness and prosperity. Those who have served 
with him, have learned to esteem him more and more, and feel that 
his resignation will be a great loss to them, and to the town. 

The grant for schools in 1863, was raised to 81300, as the people 
began to learn how to bear the burdens of the war. In 1361, the sum 
was f>2200. The next year, $2500 were granted. In 1866, the grant 
was 83000, and in 1867, it was raised to $3500, and in 1868, to 83800. 

SECTION 7. — THE DISTRICT SYSTEM ABOLISHED. 

The question of' abolishing the districts had been occasionally re- 
ferred to in town meetings, previous to the year 1865, but it had never 
been pressed upon the public attention. It now came up for inquiry, 



220 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 

and at the annual meeting, March 6, a committee wa3 appointed to 
consider and report on the subject. On the 20th of May, they report- 
ed, when the subject was re-committed. At a meeting on the 3d of 
June, the committee reported against the measure, and the town voted 
not to do away with the district system. On the 5th of March, 1866, 
the Selectmen were authorized " to divide the scholars in No. 8, be- 
tween Nos. 7 and 11, as convenience requires." 

At a meeting on the 7th of May, it was voted that a committee be 
appointed " to consider the subject of abolishing the school districts, or 
of re-districting the town, and report at an adjourned meeting." Many 
were by this time convinced that not more than nine districts were need- 
ed, and that all above that number, involved a needless waste of money. 
It was voted that the committee consist of the school committee, viz : 
A. P. Marvin, E. S. Merrill, and George A. Litchfield, and one from 
each district, to be nominated by the chair. The following were cho- 
sen : Charles J. Rice, Luke Hale, H. 0. Clark, N. D. White, Reuben 
Bemis, Paul Raymond, Jr., C. C.Alger, William L. Woodcock, Levi 
N. Parks and William Sibley. 

This committee reported in favor of abolishing the districts, to a meet- 
ing held on the 11th of June. The number present was not large, and 
those who came together, were generally opposed to any change. The 
committee recommended that the town should buy the school-houses, 
and should divide the town, for the present, into nine sections, in which 
schools should be maintained. The plan was advocated by Rev. A. 
P. Marvin, and opposed by Messrs. Reuben Harris and Grover S. 
Whitney. The vote was nearly a unit in the negative. Bat the sub- 
ject was now fairly before the public. In the course of the ensuing 
winter, Mr. Northrop, the agent of the Board of Education, addressed 
the citizens on the general subject of education, on which occasion he 
spoke of the benefits which would flow from the abandonment of the 
districts, and from the town's resuming its ancient entire control of the 
schools. 

At the annual meeting, March 4, 1867, the proposal was again 
brought forward. Mr. Orlando Mason moved that " we do abolish the 
school districts." The discussion was opened by the chairman of the 
school committee, and on the next day was continued by several speak- 
ers ; after Avhich the motion was carried by the following vote : yeas, 
77 ; nays, 29. 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 221 

This having been done, the school committee was enlarged to the 
number of twelve. Messrs. Marvin and Merrill held over ; Mr. Litch- 
field was re-elected ; and the following gentlemen were added, viz : 
Messrs. Giles H. Whitney, Charles J. Rice, Nelson D. White, Will- 
iam Woodcock, Windsor N. White, George Gregory, Charles A. Loud, 
Ira Russell, M. D., and Rev. Charles Wheeler. The committee were 
then instructed to employ three persons from out of town, to appraise 
the property of the old school districts. They were further " to meet 
a committee of three from each of the school districts, to see what al- 
terations, repairs, or new houses, or changes of location, may be needed, 
if any, and the probable cost of the same, and report to an adjourned 
meeting." It was next voted, " that the Selectmen be requested to 
take possession of the school-houses and other property of the school 
districts, forthwith." The division of the school money was left to the 
school committee. 

The town, on the first of April, voted to accept the report of the 
appraisers selected by the school committee to appraise the several 
school-houses in the town, which was as follows : 

"We the undersigned, Appraisers, appointed under the direction of the town 
of Winchendon, to appraise the value of the school-houses, land, apparatus and 
other property owned and used for school purposes, do appraise the value of 
the school-houses, &c, in said districts. 

No. 1, $80. No. 7, $80. 

" 2, 800. 

" 3, 4750. 
" 4. 000.* 

" 5, 200. 

All of which is respectfully submitted. 



Winchendon. 

SECTION 8. NEW SCHOOL HOUSE. 

The same meeting, March 6, 1805, which raised the committee on 
districts, chose another committee, of five persons, to consider the pro- 
priety of erecting # new school-house, for the use of the town, to be lo- 



8 


9 




175. 









300. 


10. 






475. 


11 






200. 




Oilman 


Day 






Ohio W 


HITNEY, Jfi. 




John K 


ING. 





* The house in this district is the property of the Nelson Manufacturing Co. 



222 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 

cated in the Village. This matter was held in abeyance until the dist- 
ricts were abolished, except so far as obtaining a lot of land was con- 
cerned. In relation to this matter, the committee made a report on the 
11th of June, 1800, as follows: in "regard to the expense of prepar- 
ing the E. Murdock, Jr. lot." 

" Necessary ditches, 200 rods, $500 

Taking out stones and roots', ploughing, leveling, and filling ditches, 1 100 
.Manure, 200 

Dig. cellar and wharfiag, 500 

Underpinning, 200 

Making road by C. W. Newraan'a, 200 



Total, • $2700 

Seth Tucker, 
William Brown, 
J. H. Fairbanks, 

Betucel Ellis." 

At a meeting, on the 2d of July, 1868, the following gentlemen were 
appointed a committee, viz : Bethuel Ellis, William L. Woodcock, Will- 
iam Beaman, Orlando Mason, and George B. Raymond, to examine the 
Academy, fence and yard, and into the conditions on which the town 
came into possession of the same. Also, whether it is best to repair the 
Academy, or erect a new one, or build on any other site." On the 7th 
of July this committee made a report. In relation to the conditions of 
the gift of the Academy, they reported as follows : 

" The town came in possession of the property in the following manner. 
In the last will and testament of the late Ephraim Murdock, Esq., is the fol- 
lowing item : ' I hereby order that the Academy building in said Winchendon, 
and the ground enclosed around said building, be used and occupied for a 
school, free of rent, so long as the town, or Trustees of said Academy, shall 
(.mho a good school to be kept therein, and the building, and fence around the 
enclosure, to be kept ia good repair ; and upon the failure of the town of Win- 
chendon, or the Trustees of said Academy, to perform these conditions, then 
said Academy building and land to revert to my heirs. This clause to be con- 
strued reasonably ; a continued neglect in the particulars only to work a for- 
feiture.' " 

The committee considered the house entirely inadequate for a High 
School, but did not agree on any special recommendation. Messrs. O. 



EISTORY OF WINCHENBOS. 22o 

Mason, B. D. Whitney raid G. B. Raymond were chosen a committee 
to examine and get up a plan for a High School building. On motion 
of Rev. George A. Litchfield, it was voted " that the town purchase three 
and three-quarters acres of land recently offered by E. Murdoch, Jr., 
for 81000, for High School purposes." The meeting was then adjourned 
to August 4, at which time there were not persons enough present to 
warrant the clerk in calling the meeting to order, he, in the words of 
the Records, " considering the meeting dead for want of friends." At 
the annual meeting, March 5, 1867, the committee chosen by the town 
at a meeting held on the 15th day of November, 1866, to confer with 
E. Murdoelc, Jr., in regard to giving a title to the property referred to 
by the wte of the town, July 20, 1866, reported in these words: 

" They have had a conference with Gapt. Murdock, as contemplated by 
vote of the town, and obtained from him the following proposition, to wit: 'that 
tha town shall have a warranty deed of the land referred to by vote of the 
town, July 20, 1866, for school purposes, or for a public Common, and for 
no other, together with 1000 loads of gravel for filling up the same, for $1000 ; 
and when suitable High School buildings, or any other public school buildings 
are erected on the land ; or failing to erect such buildings, shall fit up such 
lands as a public Common, then all restrictions as to future use of the prop- 
erty, and all forfeiture on account of other use of the same shall be null and 
void.' " O. Mason, 

B. Ellis, 
S. Tucker. 

Then, on motion of E. Butler, it was voted that the " Selectmen be 
authorized to take a deed of the land, and pay for the same." At an 
adjourned meeting, April 15, it was voted to build the school-houses 
needed in the former districts No. 1 and 9, of brick, and finally the 
question of a new school-house in the Village was settled by authori- 
zing the building committee, viz : Nelson D. White, J. B. Sawyer, 
Charles A. Loud, John M. Forristall and Sidney Fairbank, to erect a 
building for school purposes, on the land purchased of E. Murdock, Jr., 
according to the plan which was presented. The same committee was 
authorized to erect a new school-house in Waterville, and another at 
the Centre. 

t 

SECTION 10. — PROGRESS. 

Such is a succinct account of the measures taken by the town for the 



224 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 

education of the children and youth -within her borders, since the be- 
ginning of the century. It is an honorable record, showing that a deep 
interest has been felt, from year to year, throughout the whole period, 
in regard to the most important matter which can be acted upon by a 
town, in its municipal capacity. The advance in appropriations of money 
has more than kept pace with the growing number of scholars, and the 
increasing wealth of the town. The sum granted in the year 1800, 
was $266.66 ; in 1868, $3,800.00. 

Has there been corresponding improvement in the schools ? In re- 
gard to all the material means and apparatus of education, there has 
been great advancement.' The school-houses, poor as some of them 
are now, are vastly superior to those where the fathers and mothers of 
the town learned the rudiments of education. In place of the ancient 
benches extending round the room, so high that the feet of the younger 
scholars could not reach the floor, our children have convenient desks 
and seats, or chairs, graduated to their size. There has been an en- 
tire change, and a great improvement in school-books, maps and black- 
boards. These improvements the most unyielding sticklers for old 
times cannot deny. 

But the question returns, are the schools better than they were ? 
Do our children receive a better education than did their predeces- 
sors ? The answer must be in the affirmative. The children attend 
school more weeks each year ; they attend to more branches of study; 
and they are more proficient, generally, in those to which they give 
their attention. Sixty or seventy years ago, besides reading, spelling 
and writing, arithmetic was the great study. By degrees, some few 
took up the study of geography, with the aid of Morse. At last, some 
more enterprising than the majority, ventured upon the intricacies of 
English grammar, under the lead of Alexander, and afterwards of 
Lindley Murray. But a few weeks devoted to these studies in the win- 
ter, could not enable the scholars to make much progress. " The first 
winter of this century," says Dr. Whiton, " that of 1800-1, an excel- 
lent school was taught at the Centre, by a son of Rev. Dr. Payson, of 
Rindge, Edward Payson, then a member of Cambridge College ; af- 
terwards the distinguished Rev. Dr. Payson, of Portland, a name known 
and honored on both sides the Atlantic. I think his school gave a new 
impulse to educational interests, and the next twenty years were years 



HISTORY OP WINCHENDON. 225 

of advance." The next impulse was probably given in 1816, when 
the committee whose report has been copied at length in preceding pa- 
ges, entered on their labors. There was a rising interest in the im- 
provement of our schools years before the late Hon. Horace Mann was 
chosen Secretary of the Board of Education. Such men as the Hon. 
John G. Carter, of Lancaster, and his compeers, did much to awaken 
attention to the defects in our system of education, and thus the way 
was prepared for the mighty work accomplished by Mr. Mann and his 
successors. The schools of Winchendon participated in the general 
advancement. 

The writer can speak from personal knowledge in regard to the 
schools in this town since the beginning of 1844. At that time the 
schools were good. They were under the care of excellent teachers. 
There were differences, of course ; some teachers were superior to oth- 
ers ; but generally they were worthy of their high vocation. Many of 
these are still held in grateful remembrance by their pupils, and in 
high esteem by the committee who visited their schools. The advance- 
ment since that time is due in part to some improvement in books and 
apparatus, as well as in the seats of the scholars in amajority of the school 
houses ; but the chief advancement is due to these four causes. First, the 
Normal Schools have increased the efficiency of teachers, not only those 
who have attended, but others ; secondly, more time is improved in 
attending school each year ; thirdly, several of our schools are graded, 
and thus made doubly valuable ; and lastly, the High School has been a 
great incentive to study and good behavior. The hope of being admit- 
ted there has been a stimulus felt in every district, and by hundreds of 
our youth. Thus all the schools have been improved, while the High 
School itself has been the means of giving many an excellent education, 
and preparing others for higher institutions of learning. The standard 
of education is higher than ever before ; and doubtless the schools in 
this town will partake of all improvements enjoyed by other places, in 
the Generations to come. 

NAMES Of HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS. 

The names of tlje Principals and Assistants who have had charge of 
the High School since its opening in the year 1853, are here given, 
in the order of their service. 

15 



226 



HISTORY OP WINCHENDOIf, 



1854, 

1855, 
1856, 

1857, 



PRINCIPALS. 

Mr. A. E. Upton. 
Mr. Wm. W. Godding, | 
Mr. J. J. Milson. j 

Mr. D. C. Chamberlain, 1 
Miss Lucy A. Rice, >- 

Mr. Win. W. Godding. ) 
Mr. S. Hardy, ) 

Mr. D. C. Chamberlain.} 



1858-65, Mr. D. C. Chamberlain. 



1865-6, 
1866, 

1867, 

1867-8, 



Mr. Frank Brackett. 
Mr. A. S. Howe: 
Mr. J. F. Fielden. \ 

Rev. Milan H.Hitchcock. ) 
Mr. John K. Browne. 



* 


ASSISTANTS, 


1854, 


Miss Ellen R. Murdock. 


1855, 


Miss Ellen R, Murdock. 



1856, 



1864, 

1865, 

1865-6, 

1866, 

1867, 

1867-8, 



Miss Mary E. Whitney, > 
Miss .Ellen R. Murdock. ) 



Miss Anstriss Weston, > 
Miss Emily R. Pitkin. J 
Miss Maria D. Newton. 
Miss Ursula E. Clark. 
Mrs. A. S. Howe. 

Miss M. D. Newton. 

Miss Caroline E. Marvin. 



SCHOOL BOOKS. 

It may be a matter of interest to those who come after us, to know 
what books were used in the schools of this town, by the children of 
this generation. For their information, a list is here given. 

English Branches.— The Bible ; Webster's Dictionary ; Spelling, 
— -Sargent's Pronouncing Speller ; Series of Readers, — Willson; Geog- 
raphy, — Guyot's for the High School, and Warren's for the other 
schools ; Arithmetic,— Greenleaf's Series ; Grammar, — Wells ; His- 
tory,-— Goodrich ; Physiology,— -Cutter ; Natural Philosophy, — Loo- 
mis' Olmstead ; Mental Philosophy, — Watts and Abercrombie ; Compo- 
sition, — Quackenboss; Physical Geography,- — Fitch and Colton ; Writ- 
ing Books, — 'Payson and Dunton ; Algebra, — Greenleaf ; Geometry, 
— Davies' Legendre ; Chemistry ; Surveying ; Book-keeping ; Drawing. 

Latin. — -Grammar, — -Andrews and Stoddard; Lexicon, — Andrews; 
Lessons,—- -Andrews ; Latin Reader,— Andrews ; Cornelius Nepos ; Vir- 
gil ; Cicero ; Caesar ; Sallust. 

Greek. — Grammar,-— Crosby ; Lexicon, — Donnegan ; Lessons, — 
Crosby ; Greek Reader ; Greek Testament ; Anabasis ; Iliad. 

French. — Fasquelle's Course. 

In conclusion, the reader who may desire a more full statement of the 
condition and progress of our schools, during the last twelve or fifteen 
years, can consult the printed Reports of the School Committee, depos- 
ited in the office of the town clerk, and prior to this date, the Reports 
as copied into the Records. 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 227 



CHAPTER XV.— ROADS AND BRIDGES. 



"And round and round, over valley and hill, 
Old roads winding as old roads will, 
Here to a ferry and there to a mill." 

WlHTTIER. 
SECTION 1. — THE ROADS BOUNDED AND STRAIGHTENED. 

In continuing the history of Roads and Bridges in the town, it is not 
designed to give a minute account of every slight change and improve- 
ment, but such a general statement of facts as will enable the reader to 
learn the progress of the town in respect to local and through travel. 
Roads mark the progress of a people, and contribute greatly to their 
wealth and civilization ; and when good roads are completed, they are 
a rich legacy to succeeding generations. 

Up to this time, the people had been opening bridle-paths and cart- 
roads from their own homes to their neighbors, and changing the loca- 
tion of them from time to time, as convenience required. The same 
process was pursued in the first year or two of this century. Thus a 
road was accepted for Charles Chase, April 6, 1801, extending from 
where Mr. Stephen Weston lives, northerly towards the State line. On 
the 4th of May it was voted to alter Robert Bradish's road, and also 
Lieut. Isaac Noyes' road. The time had now come for the adoption 
of some system of roads, and accordingly a committee was appointed 
" to ascertain the bounds of the roads in the town ; also to straighten 
said roads." The gentlemen chosen were Dea. Moses Hale, Lieut. 
Paul Raymond, and Capt. Thomas Graton. These men were well qual- 
ified for the work. Dea. Hale was a surveyor ; Lieut. Raymond had 
a talent for road and bridge making, and Capt. Graton had experience 
in the same line. 

On the 5th of January, 1802, the town accepted the road from Ste- 
phen Weston's to Joseph Bobbins', thus opening a means of communi- 
cation from Robbinsville to Tallow Hill. At the same time, the town 
heard the Report of the committee chosen to ascertain the bounds of 



228 HISTORY OF WINCDEJaWX. 

the roads, and straighten them. Each road in the report was read and 
put to vote separately, and after the reading of them, their report was 
accepted by said town, excepting the last mentioned road, namely, the 
road from Col. Woodbury's to the county road leading from Esq. Cros- 
by's to Gardner. The substance of the report is given below ; partly 
in the language of the committee. By following this report carefully, 
the roads as they were in 1802 may be found on the map. The names 
of present inhabitants is sometimes substituted for those mentioned by 
the committee. 

REPORT. 

" The committee chosen by the town of Winehendon, to straighten and re- 
new the bounds of the roads in said town, have attended that service, and make 
the following report, which is submitted to the town for their consideration. 

Winciibndon, January 2, 1802. 

1. A road from Ashburnham to Royalston, 7 13-32 miles from the Ash- 
burnham line near Isaac Stimson's house — by the Estey school-house, and the 
Common, and so on to Royalston. 

2. A road from Templeton road near Eliphalet Goodridgc, to the county 
road by Robert Bradish, 402 rods, or 1 mile and 82 rods. 

3. A road from the southwest school-house, by Mr. C. C. Alger's, Capt. 
Alger's and M. M. Reed's to Templeton road, 960 rods, or 3 miles and 37 rods. 

4. A road from a spot north of Jonathan Evans' house, by Isaac Grout's 
to the road near Timothy Hancock's. That is, from the Tyler Raymond place 
south to the new county road, 1 1-2 miles and 38 rods. 

5. A road from the last mentioned road, beginning 3 rods south of Isaac 
Grout's, going by Lb. Benjamin Rice's, westerly to the road by C. C. Alger's, 
222 rods, or 1-2 mile and 62 rods. 

6. A road from the notch of the road south of the bridge on Mr. Whit- 
ney's mill pond to the south side of the Common, 457 rods, or 1 1-1 miles 
and 57 rods.* 



* This must have been the distance by the original road from the mill to the 
BOUth end of the Common. By throe several surveys, in move recent times, 
the distance from the bridge to the meeting-house built in 1702, is just about a 
mile. This would make the distance from the mill to the south end ofthe Com- 
mon, about one mile and twenty rods. Whitney, in making up his; map, followed 
the old survey, and gives the distance as one mile and one hundred and thir- 
ty-seven rods, nearly, as may be seen by applying' his seale to his map, yet 
the present road had been in use at least thirty years before his map was pub- 
lished. 

How can we account for the distance as given in the old surveys? In this 
way. There are traces of old roads around and over the central hill, which 



HISTORY OP WTNCHENDON. 229 

7. A road from Major. Sylvester's house by Dea. Samuel Prentice's to 
Daniel Farrar's, on the Iloyalston road, 1 7-8 miles and 32 rods. 

8. A road from the above road, starting at Watcrvillc, by Mr. Page's, to 
the bridge over Miller's liver, 16 rods, and thence by Ezra Hyde's and Mr. 
Winch's to the Fitzwilliam road ; that is, the old road from Watcrvillc to Win- 
chendon Village, 307 rods. 

0. A road from Ilindge line by Benjamin May's, now Daniel May's, to 
the Fitzwilliam road, not far from where Mr. Belknap now lives, 260 rods, 
or 6 furlongs, and 26 rods. 

10. A road from the Tcrapleton road a few rods north of Abel Wilder's 
barn, or a little west of the poor-house, by the Tuttle and Bigelow farms, to 
the county road from Winehendon to Gardner, 582 rods, or 1 3-4 miles and 
22 rods. 

11. A road from the before-mentioned road, going by Mr. Vosc's, Nathan 
Knight's, and Thomas Greenwood's to the corner where Capt. Levi Greenwood 
formerly lived, 582 rods, or 1 34 miles and 22 rods. 



meet the case, and which verify the remark made by the aged Mrs. Daniel 
Boynton before her death, that when she came to town, she " went to meet- 
ing over the top of the kill." About half way from the old Nichols tavern to 
the brow of the bill, at the north-east comer of the cleared held north of the 
summit, the author has discovered the traces of au old road. It crosses the 
ditch on the west side of the present road. Passing from this point, across 
the field, in a southwesterly direction, to the bars in the middle of the west- 
ern boundary, the curious will find clear traces of an old traveled way, going 
past the clump of trees, on the east side, skirting the west side of the hill, 
and coming out just west of the yard of Mr. Josiah Dunn. Going back almost 
lo the clump of trees, and facing the south, a branch road will be found tend- 
ing to the south-west, till it is lost in a held that is under cultivation. This 
last was probably a private road. Going back again near the clump of trees, 
And hunt traces will be found of a road reaching up the hill-side, just east of 
the great boulder, and so on south by east to a point about soulh-west from 
the new saioou on the summit; thence extending east over the hill to the 
blacksmith shop of Dea. John Cutter. By this road, or by (hat which reaches 
.the Koyalstou readjust west of Mr. Dunn's, the distance of the original sur- 
vey would be met. Again, starting from Dea. Cutter's shop, ascending the 
hill Avest a few rods, and very distinct traces of an old road will be seen run- 
ning in a northerly direction, in a direct line, to the wall. This side of the 
wall, repeated ploughings have obliterated the marks of the road, except pos- 
sibly in two or, three places. This read is eight or ten rods east of the saloon, 
or observatory, and may be the one by which Mrs. Boynton went to meeting 
** over the top of the hill -," though the summit is a few feet higher. It is said 
that this last road was made by Col. Adams, but it is probable that for his own 
convenience, he repaired an old road, then nearly obliterated by long disuse. 
My conjecture is that the first road went by the clump of trees to Mr. Dunn's, 
or til* Day place, with a branch over the hiil to the north end of the Common ; 
that the second road went over the hill cast of the saloon, and that the pres- 
ent is the third ronM, which is about a third of a mile shorter than the first. 

The road starting west of the clump of trees, and going south-west, was 
probably for the convenience of Abner Curtice and others, living in that di- 
rection. The.sc old roads are shown on the map by dotted lines. 



230 HISTORY OF WINCBENDOH-. 

12. A road from the east school-house to Samuel Sargent's land, [or John 
Estey's] 799 rods, or 2 1-2 miles. 

13. A road running from the old Ashburnhani road, by John Bemis', on 
the east side of the town, running south, to Gardner, 476 rods, or 1 mile and 
156 rods. 

14. A road from the Fitzwilllam road, a little north of the John Gill house, 
almost due east to Asa Perley's, 81 rods. 

1 5. A road for Amasa Brown and Amos Hale, beginning south of Royal- 
ston road by Warner's blacksmith's shop — the road by John Raymond's, 
224 rods, or 1-2 mile ami 64 rods. 

16. A road from Templeton line, north of Jonesville — a few rods north of 
the house of Abljab Kendall — by Samuel Brown's, and Paul Raymond's, 
to Rev. Mr. Brown's barn, near the southwest sorner of the Common, 1118 
rods, or 3 miles an$ 158 rods. 

17. A road starting about 18 rods north from where the la3t mentioned coad 
began, on the west side, and extending twelve rods westerly to Templeton line. 

18. A road from Royalston road, west of Esq. Crosby's, or Jarvis Winn's, 
northerly, across the river, to Matthew Knight's, and so on to William Tol- 
man's, 811 rods, or 2 1-2 miles and 31 rods. 

19. A road from Joseph Adams' place, by Flavel Crosby's to 3 rods north 
of Dea. Moor's barn, near Samuel Woodbury's, 188 rods, or 1-2 mile and 28 
rods. 

20. A road for Capt. Jacob Wales, and others, beginning at the corner 
north of Capt. Alger's, thence west, by the house of Capt. Jacob Wales, to 
a spot about midway of the plain, thence south, by the Bowker house, thence 
west across the river to the county road leading from Royalston to Templeton 
near Joseph Day's bouse, a little south of the New Boston meeting-house, 588 
rods, or 1 3-4 miles and 28 rods. 

21. Henry Crooks' road extending 52 rods north from David Alger's jus6 
west of Miller's river, north of where Mrs. B. Adams now lives. 

22. A road from Mr. Dudley Perley's by Moses Hale's to Mr. Benjamin 
Kidder's, through the Village, 1397 rods, or 4 miles and 117 rods. 

23. A road from the last, beginning near said Kidder's, and leading west- 
erly to John Brooks, through Bullardville, and by Tallow Hill school-house, 
743 rods, or 2 miles and 103 rods. 

24. A road from Royalston line, west of Paul Stuart's, or George Greg- 
ory's, southeasterly by Albert Brown's, and the Simeon Poland place, to the 
road from Winchendon to Royalston, east of the Barzillai Martin place, 431 
rods, or 1 mile and 111 rods. 

25. A road for Capt. Graton, beginning at Seth Tucker's, going easterly, 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 231 

to Capt. Graton's, since J. Hapgood's, now used as a barn by Whitcomb & 
Fairbank, 92 rods. 

26. A road from Asaph Brown's house near the Bindge line, where John 
Crosby formerly lived, to Fitzwilliam road near Merriam's tavern ; that is from 
Mr. Brown's to the Village, taking the Rindge road and coming by the Pay- 
sou, or E. 31urdock, Jr., and the Boynton farms, 830 rods, or 2 1-2 miles and 
30 rods. 

27. A road from Esq. Crosby's, or Jarvis Winn's to Gardner line, south 
of Mr William Whitney's, afterwards Joseph Whitney's, 1074 rods, or 3 miles, 
114 rods. 

All the roads three rods wide, and the bounds at the angles are heaps of 
stones." 

" March 1, Voted to build a powder house of brick. 

May 3, Accepted a road from John Brooks', west by south, to Paul Stu- 
art'sbound. Now out of use." 

From this time, changes were made in the old roads, or new roads 
were opened, as the public convenience recpiired ; but this action of the 
town marks a new epoch in the means of travel. Bridle roads began 
to be obsolete, and the families generally lived on the highways. 

SECTION 2. THROUGH TRAVEL. 

An effort was made very early to bring the travel from the west through 
this place to Boston and the eastern part of the State. We have seen 
that the Proprietors took measures to eut a road to Earlington, or North- 
field, and thus open a communication from the valley of the Connecti- 
cut to that of the Nashua. Not far from the same time, a road was 
opened to Fitzwilliam and Keene, by which travel from the northwest 
was turned hitherwards. The tavern-keepers of those days, naturally 
felt an interest in the opening and improving of roads. An enterpris- 
ing and energetic man by the name of Levi Nichols, came into the town, 
probably in the year 1772. " Encouraged by the large travel through 
the town," says Dr. Whiton, " he erected a tavern establishment, spa- 
cious for that day, on the spot where Mr. Cromwell Fisher's house now 
stands." After the Revolution, travel increased, and the tavern was 
well patronized. " In times of fine sleighing, it was not uncommon to 
see around Ins house, thirty or forty two-horse sleighs, loaded with prod- 
uce for market ; the sleigh-spires turned up, resembled a little forest ; 
while the large barns were filled with horses, and the house was crowded 



232 HISTORY OP WINCHENDON. 

with teamsters, put up for the night, from the towns westward as far 
as the Green Mountains. Mr. Nichols became extensively known, and 
his tavern was for many years the most noted locality in Winchendon." 
He finally moved to Keene, and thence to Springfield, Vt., where he 
died. Richard Day's house just west of the Common, was used for a 
while as a public house ; then he set up a log-house tavern in the orch- 
ard west of the house of Mr. Isaac Cummings, where are the marks 
of an old cellar ; but very early in our history, a public house was put 
up on the southeast corner of the Common, where the house of Charles 
J. Rice now stands. Several names of the keepers of this house have 
already been mentioned.- About the time of Mr. Nichols* removal, 
James McElwain, of Scotch-Irish descent, came here, and " for many 
years in the latter part of the last century, was the well-known keeper 
of the old tavern-stand at the Centre, which had been formerly kept by 
Matthew Knight. Mr. McElwain was a man of remarkably social dis- 
position, and had a good share of custom. In cold weather, he had 
always ready for the traveler a blazing fire, in which lay a red-hot iron 
poker or flip-dog ; to be plunged into the countless mugs of flip he com- 
pounded ; that being then the favorite beverage of his customers. Those 
mugs of sweet-spiced flip, flavored with a cracker, crowned with froth I 
alas ! many a man they lured along in the path to intemperance ; but 
no man at that day suspected that in this state of things there was any- 
thing wrong." 

About 1790, the tavern stand of Mr. Nichols was bought by Benja- 
min Hall, a very respectable man from Keene. After a few years, he 
sold out to Major Sylvester from Hanover, Mass. In time, this house 
was closed as a tavern, and the house of Mr. McElwain became the 
great place of resort by the traveling public, as well as by the quidnuncs 
of the town. There was a tavern also kept by Benjamin Kidder, for 
many years, where Jason Keith now lives. In those times the road to 
Tallow Hill branched off at this tavern. Two great barns furnished ac- 
commodations for teams. A few years subsequently, Dea. Moses Hale 
opened a public house where Seth Maynard recently lived. This was 
the most roomy house in town, and being on the road — afterwards a 
turnpike — going directly from the village to Ashburnham, received the 
travel which was diverted from the hill or Centre. 

Early in 1795, a post-route was established from Boston to Charles- 
town, N. H., via Leominster, Winchendon and Keene. Jotham John- 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. Zod 

son, of Leominster, informed the public, through the " Columbian In- 
former," a newspaper published at Keene, dated February 4, 1795, 
that he " transports the mail from Boston to Charlestown, conveying 
it in winter in a covered sleigh, carrying passengers at three pence 
per mile, with fourteen pounds baggage gratis.'''' He carried the mail 
several years ; in summer on horse-back. One summer he tried the 
experiment of running a four-horse stage. This was " quite an epoch 
in Winchendon ; the excitement was hardly less than that attendant on 
the first running of the cars. The inmates of the houses ran to the 
doors and windows, to gaze at the stage, and scan the passengers ; but 
the proprietor found the roads too bad, and the patronage too small, 
to justify the continuance of the stage." The mail passed from Bos- 
ton to Leominster, on Wednesday ; from Leominster to Keene on Thurs- 
day ; Friday, from Keene to Charlestown and back to Walpole ; Sat- 
urday, from Walpole to Leominster ; and thence, Monday, to Boston. 
" Johnson's arrival with the Boston mail, was awaited with great im- 
patience, by the quidnuncs of the day ; they thought themselves for- 
tunate indeed in having a mail from Boston once every week; it seemed 
to them all they could wish." 

Sixty years ago it was thought " quite a feat" to come from Boston 
to this place by stage, in a day. About that time, — 1805-6 — is the 
date of the completion of the old turnpike road from Fitzwilliam to 
Winchendon, and on to the East. It was deemed at the time a great 
achievement, giving promise of a " flood of travel to pass through town." 
For a time there was a good share of travel upon it ; but rival routes 
were constructed, which drew away much of the patronage. After 
some years, the Rindge route was most frequented, and that through 
Winchendon became comparatively forsaken. To the proprietors it 
proved a bad investment ; in fourteen or fifteen years, shares of one 
hundred dollars depreciated down to fifteen or twenty, and soon after- 
wards became worthless. That day was the age of Turnpikes ; but 
sooner or later, a similar fate overtook nearly, if not quite all these 
roads." 

The opening of the road by the Hale tavern diverted travel from the 
hill, and took away custom from the tavern half way up the hill, and 
from that at the Southeast corner of the Common. When the travel 
began to go through Rindge, the Hale tavern suffered. By opening 
the new road from the Village to Ashburnham, up the valley of Mil- 



234 HISTORY OP WINCHENDON. 

ler's river, travel was brought hither again, and for some years before 
the railroad was extended through this town, long lines of teams were 
continually passing through the Village. A team of six, eight, and 
even nine horses, was not an uncommon sight. At this time, the only, 
hotel much patronized, — indeed the only one in town, except the Cobb 
tavern in New Boston, — was kept by Mr. Milton S. Morse. A daily 
stage between Boston and Keene, passed each way. Previous to this, 
a stage line ran from Worcester, via Templeton, through the Centre 
of the town, to the north and west. At another period, a stage line 
passed up and down, through Fitzwilliam, the west part of this town, 
and Templeton. But sinee 1830, a vast amount of travel, by road or 
railway, has passed through the Village. 

The Post Office was at the Centre till about 1805, or 1806, when 
the Turnpike created a sort of necessity for it to be located in the Vil- 
lage, where, with a brief interval, it has since remained. 

SECTION 3. — NEW ROADS. 

It is time to resume the chronological narrative of the progress of 
road and bridge-making in the town. In 1802, a new line of road 
for Charles Chase was accepted, and the old discontinued. Both were, 
long since, abandoned. The people of Royalston wanted a good road 
towards the east, without the necessity of going over Winchendon hill. 
In 1802, September 6, the town chose the Selectmen as a committee 
to oppose a change in the road in the south part of the town, which the 
people of Royalston were trying to secure. Samuel Crosby was chosen 
agent to attend the Court, and use his influence, " and all other means 
he shall judge best," in opposition. November 1, it was voted to build 
over the river, above the oil mill, where the bridge now stands, [near 
the works of Goodspeed & Wyman] " and take it in shares, if they 
will make a turnpike road through the town, so as to pass over said 
bridge." A road was accepted for Col. Woodbury, by James Ray- 
mond's and north by west to the county road from Esq. Crosby's to * 
Gardner, coming into the latter a little south of where Isaac Cummings 
formerly lived. It was a miserable road ; two houses were on it, both 
long since fallen down ; and the road north of Mr. Raymond's has been 
unknown to any of this generation. Before this time, Mr. Woodbury 
reached the Common by going south and west, to the Gardner road. 
The road was 1043 rods, or three miles and 85 rods in length. 



HISTORY OF TTINCHENDON-. 235 

In 1803, a road 236 rods long, from Levi Brooks' north to the State 
line, was accepted. It never came into use. At the same time, a road 
■was accepted for Isaac Taylor and others, from Gardner line north by 
east to another " road already laid out, 104 rods." On the first of 
November, the town voted to repair the bridge above Amasa Whitney's 
mill. Accepted a road by the dry bridge near Samuel Hartwell's, 257 
rods north by west. The " dry bridge" was west of the Wales or Cobb 
tavern. When Denison pond was very full, a stream passed from it 
under this bridge. 

In 1801, the town strenuously opposed opening a new road from 
Capt. Hoar's, in Gardner, to Winchendon Common. In April, it was 
voted to oppose the road, the old road answering the needs of travel. 
In July, Lieut. Paul Raymond was chosen agent to oppose the road — 
before the county authorities — of course. The road was laid out, but 
in November, the town renewed the opposition. A subscription had 
been raised by those favoring the road, and the question came up in 
town meeting, to see if a sum of money should be granted in addition. 
" No," said the town. The road was made, and in after years, cost 
the town much money. The town almost always neglected it, and was 
compelled by the county to make repairs. It was the new county road, 
nearly in a straight line, regardless of hills, rocks or swamps. There 
were no houses on the road, and it was of little use to the town. Tav- 
ern-keepers at either end received some patronage from through travel. 
The year 1805 witnessed several attempts at mending or opening 
roads. There was an alteration in the road from Robert Bradish's, by 
the burying-yard, towher%C. C. Alger lives; an alteration in William 
Tolman's road ; a road accepted for Stephen Tolman, 119 rods, and 
another for Peleg Battles, extending from near John Brooks' house, 
northwest, 106 rods, to the extreme northwest part of the town. On 
the 10th of March, $300 were voted to pay the damages incurred on 
the new county road to Gardner. In May, $300 were voted to pay 
for making the new county road to Gardner. On the 3d of Novem- 
ber, the Selectmen were directed to answer by letter, a complaint from 
the Grand Jury respecting the old county road from Gardner to Win- 
chendon, by William Whitney's. The turnpike through the Village, 
and the causeway ever the pond, were made this year. 

1807, April 6. Accepted a road for Mr. Wood, from Stephen Tol- 
man's road to the Mineral Spring, half a mile. This road was the first 



236 HISTORY OF WTNCHENDON. 

opening to the Spring by a town road. The next year, June 29, it was 
voted " to lay out $25 on the road to the ' Virtuous Springs.' " This 
was ancient usage in regard to mineral springs. 

In 1808, March 7, a road from Jacob Hale's, — near the Waterville 
school-house, — to Kilburn's mill, was accepted, for David McElwain 
and Daniel Farrar. May 2, it was voted to build a bridge near Mr. 
Ezra Hyde's, and that the abutments be of stone. This was the bridge 
at Waterville. Grant for bridges, $100. May 26, $300 were voted 
for the new county road to Gardner ; Lieut. Raymond to see to the work. 

SECTION 4. WORGESTER AND FITZWILLIAM TURNPIKE. 

Another source of annoyance and expense to the town, with very 
little good by way of compensation, came this year, in the new turn- 
pike, along the western border. On the 7th of November, Lt. Ray- 
mond, Dea. Hale and Capt. Nathaniel Holman, were chosen to meet 
the committee of the above company, " to see on what conditions they 
can agree to build the bridge over Miller's river, near Lieut. John 
Pierce's." That is, west of Dcnison Pond. At an adjourned meet- 
ing, November 21, it was voted, " that if the proprietors of the Wor- 
cester and Fitzwilliam Turnpike will enter into bonds to the town's 
acceptance, to clear the town from any further expense for keeping in 
repair the county road from John R. Golding's, that is, the Gibson or 
Bagley corner, by John Pierce's, to Templeton line, the town will build 
a bridge and causeway for the use of the town and said corporation." 
Chose Lt. Raymond, Dea. Hale and Capt. Graton a committee to in- 
form the turnpike company. As the turnpfte passed over the county 
road from Fitzwilliam to Templeton, this was perhaps a good arrange- 
ment for both parties, until finally the gate-fees became an intolerable 
burden. The above meeting adjourned a week, and then voted " to 
build the bridge and causeway, stone abutment on west side, logs on 
east side, forty feet wide for the run. Then east about eleven rods 
and sluiceway, forty feet wide. Bridge and causeway twenty-four feet 
wide." 

Since the new turnpike was opened from the Village to Fitzwilliam, 
the best way to Bullardville was on this road to the corner, by the old 
May house ; accordingly, the road from the Kidder tavern to the May 
corner, was discontinued in 1809. On the 10th of April, $300 were 
granted for the new county road to Gardner. December 28, a road 



HISTORY OF WINCHENBOIf. 237 

from Stephen Weston's to Joseph Robbins' 225 rods was accepted ; by 
which it appears that the former action had effected nothing. 

In 1810 a part of the old road to Gardner was discontinued ; the part 
extending from near the old Emery or Isaac Cumniings place, to the 
present road from the Poor-farm to the Bigelow place. 

On the 9th of April, 1811, a road was accepted for James and Jesse 
Raymond, from the new Gardner road, east by south to the said Ray- 
mond's, 248 rods ; no damages to any one to be paid, and no extra 
money for making. On the 11th of October, it was voted to repair the 
bridges over Miller's river, by Abel Jones' beyond Waterville, and also 
by David Alger's, near New Boston, and to build one over the river in 
the Village. At a meeting, November 4, it was voted " to let the Vil- 
lage bridge as lotted out by the committee. Total, $100.85." 

The new county road to Gardner was always like Oliver Twist, " ask- 
ing for more." In 1812, May 2, a grant of -$200 was made for re- 
pairs. On the 6th of April, a change was made in the road from De'a. 
Amos Heywood's to Rindge line ; a change also in the road from Ste- 
phen Weston's by Levi Brooks', and the Chase road was given up. On 
the 10th of August, a bridle way was accepted from Robert Hough- 
ton's house southerly, to the bars south of Samuel Sargent's house, 180* 
rods. 

In 1814, May 2, the town accepted a road laid out for John Kilbum 
and others, from near Daniel Stimson's — or rather, near the Kilbum 
mill southerly, across the plain, to the road extending from the Common 
to New Boston ; 251 rods in length. Mr. Kilburn and Mr. Reed to 
pay land damages. 

In 1815, September 11, it was voted to repair the old road leading 
from the turnpike near Joseph Robbins, to the old eounty road. The 
old road has long been out of use. John Flagg lived south of the junc- 
tion of Otter and Miller's rivers, and needed a road and bridge. The 
town therefore voted to accept a road for the said Flagg, and appoint- 
ed a committee to confer with him about a bridge across Otter river. 
The road begins a little south of Jonathan Wyman's house and goes 
directly west across the river. Mr. Wyman bid off the bridge at $77. 

November 4, 1816, the Selectmen were directed to build a bridge 
near the Robbins mill on the road to Weston's. 

Some may be not unwilling to know where the first guide-boards were 
set up. Here is a list as they were placed in 1817. 



238 HISTORY OF WINCHENDOtf, 

" One board near Capt. Phinehas Whitney's, directing to "Worcester, 
Westminster and Ashburnham. 

One board near Esq. Newcomb's, directing to Worcester and Tem- 
pleton. 

One board near James McEiwain's, directing to Worcester and 
Templeton. 

One board near John Estey's, directing toWinchendon and Royalston. 

One board near Isaac Morse's, directing to Worcester and Rindge. 

One board near Ephraim Murdock's, directing to Royalston. 

One board near Mr. Readfield's, directing to Royalston. 

One board near Joshua" Wyman's, directing to Royalston. 

One board near Storr or Stower Beals' directing to Ashburnham. " 

The annual grant for keeping the highways ia repair, grew more lib- 
feral from the beginning of the century. In 1808 the grant was $1000. 
The, same sum was continued for many years, even down to, and beyond 
the period to which we have now arrived. 

In May, 1820, it was voted to lay out 850 on the Isaac Taylor road. 

In 1821 the bit of road from Dea. Hale's tavern, south by west, about 
forty rods, to the road leading from the Common to Ashburnham was 
accepted. At the same time, the road from Dea. Hale's to Joseph 
Whitney's — the old Dudley Perley place — was discontinued. After- 
wards — in 1823 — it was re-opened. There was a straight road — since 
discontinued, from Dea. Hale's to the Estey school-house. 

1822, May 6, the town accepted the road from David Beaman's to 
widow Hey wood's — since Capt. Forristall's — 164 rods in length, on con- 
dition that the town be indemnified from any charges for the land, or 
fencing the same, and the north district make the road. 

A slight alteration was made in the road from the southwest burying' 
yard to the turnpike, in 1824. 

On the 7th of March, 1825, a road for John Kilburn, was accepted, 
from his mill, on the west side of Miller's river, north, to the Royals- 
ton road. This road was made, in course of time, and was used till 
the woods in the neighborhood were all cut up. The road is now grown 
over, in spots, with young trees, and entirely out of use. It was 238 
rods in length. In May, the Selectmen were directed without expense 
to the town, to view the roads, see where they were too narrow, and 
have all three rods wide. Robert Houghton's bridle-path was changed 
into a road. Cyrus Pierce, who then lived at the Butler mill place, 



HISTORY OP WINCHENDON. 2S9 

had a road from the mill, southerly, 215 rods, to the road leading from 
the Estey school house to Robert Houghton's ; the point of junction 
being just west of the bridge over Miller's river. 

SECTION 6. — CONTEST WITH TURNPIKE COMPANIES. 

In 1823, the North Branch Turnpike Corporation wanted to set 
up a toll-gate near the house of Esq. Murdock, in lieu of two gates at 
other points on the road, with the privilege of charging double toll. 
The town remonstrated with great spirit ; sent the remonstrance to the 
General Court, and instructed their representative, Isaac Morse, Esq., 
to oppose the project. 

Two or three years later, the town was troubled by the action of the 
other Turnpike company, and on the 1st of May, 1826, voted unani- 
mously to remonstrate against the Worcester and Fitzwilliam Turnpike 
Corporation erecting a gate near the Denison pond in Winchendon. 
A remonstrance was drawn up at considerable length, probably by Esq. 
Henshaw, presenting the objections with great force. It seems that 
the town, and the inhabitants living on and near the road, were at a 
great part of the expense and trouble of making the turnpike-road, 
(besides giving the land,) and making the bridges on the same. The 
town built the largest bridge at great expense ; and the next largest 
was built by private inhabitants, without any expense to the corpora- 
tion, or any benefit to themselves, except the free use of that part of 
the turnpike lying near them, and within the bounds of Massachusetts. 
The fifth point of remonstrance is of general interest, as may be seen 
by reading it in the words following : 

" Because in this age, and in this land of liberty, turnpike gates are every- 
where considered a nuisance, and vexatious to travelers, as well as the turn- 
pike roads themselves, which are generally the poorest roads over which the 
traveler passes from one part of the country to another ; it is often the case 
that people are obliged to travel on a turnpike , and to be obliged to travel on 
a bad and dangerous road, and to be frequently and forcibly stopped and de- 
tained, and have draughts made on their purses, and their patience, is con- 
sidered an infringement of liberty, a sort of legalized robbery, which is fast be- 
coming intolerable. Your remonstrants would therefore humbly yet respect- 
fully suggest the propriety of diminishing this great evil, by improving every 
legal means to lessen the nnmber of gates, instead of increasing the evil by 
adding to the number already erected." 



240 HISTORY OP WINCHENDON. 

This remonstrance was unanimously adopted, and sent to the Gen- 
eral Court. 

The next year, December 24, 1827, the town chose a committee of 
three — David Henshaw, Jacob Wales and Israel Whitcomb — to remon- 
strate against the Worcester and Fitzwilliam Turnpike Corporation mov- 
ing their toll gate from where it now is, to near Jacob Wales'. In 1830, 
this Corporation wished to get rid of its road from the Baptist meeting- 
house to the Fitzwilliam line. Probably there was no gate between the 
two points. The town chose a committee to remonstrate against such 
discontinuance. The idea was this ; that the Turnpike Co. as long as 
it took toll, should keep its whole line of road in repair. 

In 1828, October 13, there was a meeting to act on an article in the 
warrant, " to see what course the town will pursue as respects the North 
Branch Turnpike road being laid out as a county road." It was voted 
to choose a committee of three to meet the county Commissioners ; viz : 
D. Henshaw, Benjamin Adams, Sen., and Ebenezer Richardson. It 
was voted that the inhabitants of this town are in favor of the petition 
of Amory Holman in behalf of the North Branch Turnpike Corpora- 
tion, for making such turnpike a free road. Several reasons are given. 
1. Tnat there must be a road on the route for the convenience of the 
people. 2. There was no way to compel the Corporation to repair the 
road. It was thought right also that the county should bear some part 
of the expense. This was the last of the turnpike " nuisance." 

Going back and collecting stray items, we find there was a vote, May 
1, 1826, to repair the causeway between Mr. Ball's and Mr. Caswell's, 
when Luke Parks, John Kilburn and Oliver Lovejoy were chosen to 
see it done. 

The town was indicted for not keeping the new county road to Gard- 
ner in repair. On the 18th of August, a grant of $800 was made, to 
be expended on this road, and the town instructed a committee " to hire 
the best of hands," &c. An agent was chosen to inform the Court of 
Common Pleas of this action. The indictment was removed. The next 
entry is suggestive. On the 11th of September the vote granting $300 
for the county road, was reconsidered, and then $100 was granted for 
the county road, and the other $200 for the Houghton and the Pierce 
or Butler roads. On the 7th of March, 1827, Capt. John Forristall 
was chosen agent to put the new county road to Gardner, in good re- 
pair, from John Woodbury's to the Common. 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 241 

1828. The town accepted a road, May 5, from the southwest corner 
of the town, near Mr. Forbush's, leading north by east, to the turnpike 
going from Templeton to Fitzwilliam, by the Gibson corner, 402 rods, 
on condition that the town " be indemnified from paying any damages 
for said road, and have four years to make it in, by paying $30 per year 
in highway work, in addition to the highway district's proportion of high- 
way money in which said road is situated." This road was built in two 
or three years, after several delays, and by it a good route was opened 
to South Royalston. 

SECTION G. — A SECTIONAL STRUGGLE. 

About this time — -1828 — the town was agitated by a sectional strug- 
gle, which, after several fluctuations, finally settled in favor of the Vil- 
lage, and as a consequence, secured its lead in town affairs, and helped 
to its rising prosperity. There was an effort to run two roads through 
the town, neither of them to touch the Common, but north and south 
of it. Oliver Far and others petitioned for one from S. Bowker's in Roy- 
alston, through Winchendon Village and Ashburnham to Fitchburg. 
The town voted against this — 12 yeas to 17 nays, — and chose D. Hen- 
shaw, Esq., and Col. B. Adams to meet the Commissioners, and oppose 
the project. The other road was asked for by Joseph Estabrooks and 
others, to start from near Bowker's, go through the south of the town, 
Gardner and Westminster. The town voted in favor of this route. The 
object of the town was to prevent, so to speak, a disturbance of its equi- 
librium. A road through the south part of the town would be of scarce 
any benefit to the town, and of none at all to the Centre ; but a road 
through the Village, which was now quite a nucleus of business, would 
tend to its increase. This raised visions of the removal of the meeting- 
house, and the place of holding town-meetings, which it was painful to 
the people of the central and southern parts of the town to contemplate. 

In April, 1829, the town granted $200 to be laid out on the old turn- 
pike, below the Village ; that is, on the way towards the Hale tavern, 
and so to Ashburnham, by one branch, and Westminster, by another. 
The town could vote for this, because it would thus head off a new pro- 
ject for a road direct to Ashburnham, near the river. On the 4th of 
May, the north rallied, and the town chose Isaac Morse an agent to wait 
on the Commissioners and " request them to postpone laying out a road 
through the south part of Winchendon, for the present." This was the 

16 



242 niSTORY op winchendon. 

most that could be secured. The town had declared in favor of the 
southern route, but was willing to have it postponed " for the present." 
At the same time, it was voted to lay out $150 on the old turnpike above 
the Village, under the superintendence of Capt Forristall. 

The south road was not " postponed," and the town was called on 
to build it. On the 7th of September, a committee of five, — Jacob Wales, 
Col. Adams, Capt. B. Wilder, Capt. Levi Greenwood, and Jacob Wood- 
bury — were chosen " to lot out and let out the road" through the south 
part of the town. The road was built, and perhaps other towns have 
derived some benefit from it, in former times. To this town it was sim- 
ply a bill of expense. 

At the same meeting it was resolved, that the town are opposed to 
the laying out of a new road in the north part of the town. D. Hen- 
shaw, Esq., Capt. Bcnj. Wilder, and Messrs. William Brown, M. M. 
Reed, and Stephen Tolman, — all living south of the Centre or on the 
old turnpike — were chosen a committee " to use all reasonable means 
to oppose the laying out of said road," and to meet the Commissioners 
for that purpose. It should be said, in this connection, that a few in 
the north section joined the opposition. Those whose houses were on 
the old turnpike, and whose farms would be cut in the rear by the new 
county road, did not see any advantage to themselves in the proposed 
measure, and voted with the south section. But in spite of this persist- 
ent opposition, the Commissioners laid the road. In consequence, the 
town was soon called upon to furnish the means. A meeting was held 
on the 31st of October, at which it was voted to choose a committee of 
five " to lot out, and let out, and superintend the making of the road." 
Chose Isaac Morse, Israel Whitcomb, Benjamin Adams, John Forris- 
tall and Amasa Whitney. Two of these lived in the Village, one at 
the extreme north, one at the extreme south and one in the centre of 
the town. 

For nearly twenty years, the annual grant for highways had been 
$1000 ; but in 1830, May 5, there was an increase. There was the 
usual grant of $1000, and a part of the $1700 for expenses of the 
town, was to be devoted to the making of the two new roads. In ad- 
dition, a subscription had been made for the purpose of aiding the north 
road. In 1839, $1250 were granted for highways, and $2000 for 
new roads and other necessary charges. As $1000 was about the 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 243 

sum usually granted yearly for roads before this time, it will be seen 
that the two new roads required quite an outlay of money. 

SECTION 7. VARIOUS IMPROVEMENTS. 

The Gardner road, on which scarcely anybody lived, was up again 
for repair. A complaint had been made to the grand jury. The town 
chose an agent, August 2, 1830, to repair the road under the inspection 
of the Selectmen, and granted $100 for the purpose. Nothing was 
done however till the next spring, when Capt. Forristall was chosen a 
special agent to lay out the money, on the road " between the Common 
and Gardner line." In 1830, the Selectmen were authorized to build 
a new bridge by Poor's mill, if thought necessary. It was voted also, 
to build a bridge of wood over the river by Amasa Whitney's mill. This 
was delayed four or five years, as repairs at the north end, made the 
bridge safe. 

In 1832, measures were taken to repair the old turnpike from the 
Village to Fitzwilliam. This was the turnpike by Robbinsville. It was, 
by this time, given up by the Turnpike Co., and the gates were removed. 
The causeway west of the New Boston meeting-house was repaired. On 
the 27th of October, it was voted, almost unanimously, to oppose the 
proposed road from Iloyalston Factory to the Village. 

Probably this scheme, and another which came up the next year, 1833, 
were thought to be for the benefit of Waterville rather than the Village. 
The other proposed road was to go from Waterville, over Prentice and 
Benjamin hills to Capt. Adams', now Mr. Fisher's. It was, probably, 
a new and improved route, by which the Waterville people could get 
to the Centre without going through the Village. Both attempts failed. 

In 1833, March 7, the town voted to lay out a road from Levi Pren- 
tiss', — near the present house of Harvey Wyman, — to the county road, 
where William Brown 2d now resides, 22 rods ; and discontinue the old 
road from the said Prentiss' to Luke Heywood's. This old road went 
by Mr. Sumner Wyman's and Mrs. Connors' to the old Brooks house. 
On the 21st of September, the town " accepted the doings of the Select- 
men in laying the road by the ledge, near Lewis Robbins' house." The 
ledge was near the present house of William Woodcock, and the road 
went from R. Stirart's to Bobbins', and thence up to the hill to Levi 
Priest's, 69 rods. 



244 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 

A road was needed from Spring Village toRindge, but the town voted, 
in March, 1884, not to accept one. The roads in Waterville were slightly 
altered, but the changes were not important. On the 10th of Novem- 
ber, the town accepted a road made by Amasa Whitney, leading east 
from Seth Tucker's to the Gibson house, 24 rods. Also a road 58 rods 
long, from Charles Tolman's — -just west of the Methodist parsonage — 
to the county road ; that is, to the east comer of the Academy lot. This 
was probably an alteration of the old road. 

In 1835, March meeting, Joseph Robbins, was forbidden to flow the 
road, in two places, by his dams. On the 25th of September it was 
voted to build a bridge by A'masa Whitney's mill. On the 9th of No- 
vember, the town was called upon to build the road from Spring Vil- 
lage, northward ; and it accordingly chose a committee to " lay out and 
let the building of the road ordered by the County Commissioners from 
Spring Village to Rindge line. Chose John Forristall, James McEl- 
wain, and Henry Greenwood. 

An important move was made in 1837, to bring the Village and 
Waterville into more easy communication. On the 1st of May, it was 
voted to accept the river road from Waterville to the Village, 279 rods 
and 6 links in length. Damages awarded to Job Hyde, $30 ; to Esq. 
Murdock, $60. November 13, an alteration was made in the road 
leading from Baldwin's to the Estey school-house. The change was 
from the new county road to Ashburnham, across the river, southerly, 
to the road from Butler's mill to the school-house. Also, an alteration 
in the road, from the Spring crossing, north by east, towards Spring 
Village, 57 rods, 7 links. 

In 1838, the road from Waterville to No. 9 school-house was ac- 
cepted ; 162 rods. Also, a road "was accepted from Joseph Robbins', 
north by east, to the State line, 157 rods. March 4, 1839, a road 
from near No. 6 school-house, to the new county road to Gardner, about 
131 rods, was accepted. On the third of June, this was authorized as 
a private way. There was to be a gate at each end. 

The grant for highways, in 1834, was $1600 ; in 1835, $1200 ; in 
1836, $1600 ; the same sum the next three years ; in 1839, $1800 ; 
the same sum in 1840. 

In this last year, September 14, the town directed the Selectmen to 
meet the County Commissioners, and oppose, if expedient, the Chesh- 
ire Railroad Company's laying their road across town ways at grade. 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 245 

la 1841, May 3, the road from Spring Village to Richard Whitney's 
— now Capt. E. Murdock's farm — 249 rods, was accepted. 

In 1842, there was an alteration in the road from Edward Loud's, 
in Bullardville, westward, 89 rods. And a road was authorized from 
the house of John Brooks, 139 rods, to Samuel Holman's. It was vo- 
ted to put up gates at the ends of the road extending from Kilburn's 
mill northerly to the Royalston road ; then voted to discontinue the 
road. An effort was made to improve the road from Marvin T. Nash's 
— then living near the No. 2 school-house — to the Kidder place ; but 
it failed by a vote of 14 to 76. A few days later, June 6, a commit- 
tee Avas chosen to meet the Commissioners, and see if there h not a 
better route from M. T. Nash's by the J. Bradish place, to the Fitz- 
william line, and request them not to cause the town to make a new 
road until it is known whether a railroad is to be made to Fitchburg, 
or not. The improvement was ordered, and on the 7th of March, 1843, 
the town chose a committee of five, — E. Murdock, Jr., John Forristall, 
Isaac Morse, Levi Greenwood and George Alger, — " to lot out and 
let out, and superintend the building of the road ordered by the County 
Commissioners." On the 1st of May, $500 were granted for building 
the road. On the 5th of June, the Selectmen were authorized to bor- 
row $1500 for building said road. Voted, also to accept a re-lay of 
the road from Mr. Nash's to the old road, 129 rods. And the next 
year a road from the new road to Fitzwilliam to the Nahum Robbins 
road, was accepted. This new road to the Fitzwilliam line was a great 
improvement, inasmuch as it avoided two formidable hills on the old 
turnpike road. 

In 1843, March 6, the Selectmen were directed to repair the road 
to Gardner, and the old road to Ashburnham. June 5, they were au- 
thorized to repair the road in New Boston — the old Worcester and 
Fitzwilliam turnpike, the company now being defunct. At the same 
time, the street in front of the Methodist meeting-house was accepted, 
15 rods, 12 links. Also, accepted an improvement of the road this 
side of Mr. Ball's ; that is, up the sand hill this side of the bridge over 
Miller's river, by Mr. Ball's. The change extended about 68 rods. 

In 1S45, March meeting, 8150 were granted for the new road to 
Ashburnham, and '$2337.76 for the new road to Fitzwilliam. Here it 
may be remarked, that from the time when the new road to Ashburn- 
ham was opened, travel began again to take the route through the Vil- 



246 HISTORY OF WIXCHENDOtf. 

lage, and continued so till the railroad was opened in 1847. On the 30th 
of June, the road from the Houghton place, eastward 110 rods, to the 
Ashburnham line, was accepted. No damage awarded. On the 10th 
of November, that part of Summer street east of Central street, waa 
accepted. Also, a road from opposite Harvey Wjman's old black- 
smith shop to the residence of Rev. A. P. Marvin — now Dea. Butler's, 
—33 1-2 rods. 

1846, Baxter D. Whitney was allowed, November 9, to raise the- 
road this side of the Spring crossing, because the elevation of his dam 
flowed the water over the road. 

In 1847, November 29, a road was accepted from S. Tucker's, west, 
16 rods ; a part of Maple street. 

In 1849, November 12, a road was accepted from the Butler mills, 
south, across the railroad, to the Ashburnham road, 61 rods ; with the 
right to carry the water across the road, and to build a railroad track 
beside the Cheshire railroad, but not to obstruct travel. At the same 
meeting, the road from the Butler mills, north-east, about 180 rods to 
the Houghton road, was accepted. The old road from the Butler mills 
to David Flint's was discontinued. At the same time, an effort was 
made to shut up the old road from Waterville over the Benjamin hill. 
The motion failed, partly because the road was convenient for some 
persons to reach their lands, and partly because the road affords many 
splendid views to those who admire the beauties of nature. Every 
house formerly on this road has disappeared ; but the time will come 
when a part of it will be chosen for pleasant residences. At this meet- 
ing, Ti few rods of road were discontinued just east of the No. 9 school- 
house. 

In 1850, November 11, an alteration in the road by Jacob Wood- 
bury's, 85 rods, was allowed, and &90 damages were awarded to him. 
Pleasant street, from Front, northerly 76 rods, was accepted. In 1851, 
an alteration was authorized in the road from where Horace Whitcomb 
then lived, south by the old burying-yard, and $40 damages awarded. 

SECTION 8. — THREE NEW ROADS. 

At this period there was need of at least four — perhaps five — new 
roads, for the accommodation of the public. One of them, extending 
from Waterville school-house, south by west, through the Asa Hyde 
farm to the corner of the Fry road, 183 rods, and offering a direet 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 247 

route towards New Boston and South Royalston, was accepted on con- 
ditions. But the road has never been opened. 

Another was needed, extending from Bullardville to Waterville, by 
the Hyde mill, but it had to wait four or five years before the town took 
favorable action. Three of the needed roads, by strenuous effort, were 
opened. 

The first of these extends from the Raymond corner to the Estey 
school-house. More than half a century before, Messrs. James and 
Jesse Raymond, and Mr. Woodbury applied for a road to the Dudley 
Perley place, whereby they could reach the Centre or the Village milk 
Their effort failed. Their descendants, Levi and Clark Raymond, and 
the Woodbu^s, applied for a road in 1849, and on the 10th of De- 
cember, it was accepted. This was to extend to the Estey school-house, 
because it would be more convenient than the route proposed before, 
and was 359 rods in length. Damages allowed, $305. On the 1st 
of April, 1850, the former vote was reconsidered by a vote of 75 to 18. 
In 1853, May 25, the subject came up again, and several votes were 
taken, but finally the application for the road was rejected. At length 
the County Commissioners approved of the route, and the road was 
built in 1855. It is not only a great convenience to the people in the 
east section of the town, but also to all travelers between the Village 
and Gardner. 

The second of the needed roads which succeeded in the struggle for 
existence, was what is called the Alger road. The town declined to 
build it ; an appeal was made to the County Commissioners, who ap- 
proved it. On the 15th of April, 1850, the town chose a committee 
to oppose the Alger road before the Commissioners. The route was 
approved, and the road was built. It extends from the Royalston road, 
•at a point a little east of Mr. Nathaniel Hale's house, southerly to the 
■corner north of Capt. George Alger's, and thus opens all of the 8th 
district to Waterville, while affording a good road between the Village 
and Baldwinville. 

The third road was called the Kilburn and "Gibson road ; more prop- 
erly, Kilburn and Sibley. On the 21st of February, 1853, the town 
accepted this road, extending from near the Kilburn mill to the Sibley 
mill, 332 rods, an4 allowed $350 for damages. On the 30th of April, 
this action was reconsidered ; and then the last vote was reconsidered. 
The subject came up again on the 25th of May, when the result was 



248 HISTORY OF vnscBMvoit. 

in favor of the road. It was built accordingly. On the 80th of August, 
a short road from Gibson's corner to the flag station on the Vermont 
& Massachusetts railroad, which had been resisted strongly, was ac- 
cepted. This was reconsidered, and then again accepted. 

At length, the proposed road from Bullardville to Hydeville, and so 
on to Waterville, was, through the persevering efforts of Mr. Ezra 
Hyde and others, accepted, in 1854 ; length, 278 rods ; damages, $>80. 
But opposition prevented its being built until 18G0, when on the 10th 
of March, it was agreed to finally, and was to be 343 rods in length. 

SECTION 9. NEW BRIDGES. 

The great flood in April, 1852, made it necessary to lay out quite a 
sum of money, without delay, for bridges. Nearly every dam and bridge 
on the river, from the Ashburnham line to New Boston, was swept away. 
The waters on the northern branch were held back hj the great Mo- 
nomonauk lake and reservoir, so that no damage was incurred. On the 
4th of May a town meeting was held, and a committee of nine chosen 
to examine the several bridges to be built, and make plans and estimates^ 
for rebuilding the same, and report to an adjourned meeting. Also to 
do all things which they think necessary and proper for forwarding the 
rebuilding said bridges, before the meeting. On the 15th of May the 
committee made a report, which was accepted. A committee of three 
— Oliver Adams, Milton S. Morse, and Ephraim W. Lord, was chosen 
to lot out, let out, and superintend the building of the bridges. 

The appropriations for highways fluctuated from $1000 to $1600, for 
several years. This included bridges, except those which, on account 
of their cost, required a special grant. In 1853, the grant for highways 
was but &1200 ; but that for town charges was $3,500. In 1854, for 
the same purpose, $4,000. The next two years, the grant was $5,OX)0 
for each year. A part of this went to pay tor the bridges ; but the 
exact amount is not known. 

In May, 1852, the road from Robbins' mill to the bridge, on the Wa- 
terville road was accepted. At first, when this road was laid out, it 
crossed the river by the bend between the tannery and the Robbins mih% 
and followed the east bank of the river. The bridge having been washed 
away, was not rebuilt, but the road was continued on the west side, some 
rods beyond the mill, where a new bridge was thrown across the stream. 



HISTORY OF WINCIIENDON. 249 

On the 2d of November, a road from the Gardner line to the Greenwood 
mills, about 44 rods, with $25 damages was accepted. 

In 1853, several Village streets were accepted as roads ; as parts of 
Maple, Grove and Pleasant streets. Also an alteration in the road from 
the Thomas place to Luke Wilder's. 

In 1854, the town accepted the following roads : One for William 
Harris, in the east part of the town, 29 rods ; damages, $25.00 ; another 
for Luke Rice to C. C. Alger's, 20 rods ; damages, $7.00. In 1855 
allowed John Cutter to fill the hollow at the foct of Pillsbury hill, east 
of Jarvis Winn's. In 1856, a road was accepted from John T. Wood- 
bury's to the Gardner road, 114 rods ; damages, $185.00. Beach street 
was accepted as a road in 1860, 61 rods ; and other streets at various 
times. 

In 1866, two rather important roads were before the town for action. 
The first was to bring the Alger road directly into Waterville, without 
making the sharp angle at the school-house. This was carried, and now 
the road inosculates at the Royalston road, east of the house of the late 
Nathaniel Hale, with the Alger road to Baldwinville. The other was 
a direct road from Spring Village to the railroad station. After a live- 
ly and protracted struggle, in 1867, this road was secured, though the 
County Commissioners were summoned into the field, before the victory 
was won. 



250 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 



CHAPTER XVI.— WINCHENDON POLITICS 
SINCE 1800. 



" The greatest glory of a free-born people, 
Is to transmit that freedom to their children." 

HAVAttD. 
SECTION 1.— -FEDERALISM. 

This town was firmly on the side of the party in power, both in the 
State and Nation from the inauguration of Washington, in 1789, until 
1800. During the term of Mr. Jefferson, it adhered as firmly to Gov. 
Caleb Strong. On the 2d of April, 180-1, Mr. Strong had every vote 
for Governor. 

In 1806, after the attack on the Chesapeake, by a British man-of- 
war, there was a call for volunteers. This town responded, and the fol» 
lowing men volunteered, viz : Capt. Timothy Hancock, (ho was the old- 
est captain in the regiment, and by the call, was obliged to respond) ; 
Jacob Parks, Eliphalet Parks, John Grout, Luther Bowker. None of 
these were obliged to enter the service. The cavalry company com- 
manded by Capt. Phinehas Whitney were warned to be in readiness, 
and paraded, and all volunteered to go ; but they were not called into 
service. 

In 1808, September 5, the town voted to petition the President of 
the United States, to suspend the embargo, in whole or in part. Then 
voted to choose a committee to draft a petition to the President, Mr. 
Jefferson. The committee consisted of the following persons, viz : Dr. 
Israel Whiton, Capt. Thomas Graton, Col. Jacob B. Woodbury, Capt. 
Lemuel Heywood, and Lieut. Paul Raymond. Adjourned for half an 
hour. Then met, and accepted the petition drafted by the committee, 
by a nearly unanimous vote. The Selectmen, with the town Clerk, were 
chosen to transmit a copy of the petition to President Jefferson. It was 
then voted that the Moderator sign the petition with the Selectmen and 
I13 Clerk. Tin Moderator wa3 Col. Woodbury, the Clerk, Samuel 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDOK. 251 

Prentice, and the Selectmen, Paul Raymond, James Raymond, David 
Bcaman, Isaac Morse and Abijah Pierce. The following is the petition. 

"To the President of the United States: 

The inhabitants of the Town of Winchendon, in the County of Wor- 
cester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, in legal town meeting, met on Mon- 
day, the fifth day of September, A. D. 1808, beg leave to represent to your 
Excellency, that they feel themselves interested in whatever tends to the peace 
and prosperity of the United States ; they also feel themselves under the great- 
est obligation to submit to a government of their own choice, yet we, your pe- 
titioners, now look up to the political ruler of our nation, and ask the mani- 
festation of his sincere regards, as there has been so great a change of affairs 
among the European nations of late, that we expect the restraints of our trade 
cannot have that good effect which was expected by our constituted authority ; 
and it appears to us that the situation of our Eastern States so far differs from 
that of the Southern States, that we suffer in a greater degree than they. And 
as it now appears that the present time is a more favorable one for regaining 
our losses, and of preventing our farther sinking into ruin ; therefore we hope 
your Excellency will have the honor and happiness of making glad the hearts 
of themselves, by the suspension of the embargo, in whole or in part, which is 
now creating evils which language cannot express. And we now expect that 
the President is sensible that those laws cannot effect the good intention he be- 
fore contemplated \ and if your Excellency should doubt of the power vested 
in you by the Congress of the United States, we will wait patiently for the 
coming of Congress, to take the subject into consideration ; and we, your pe- 
titioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray." 

The President replied to this Petition, and the answer Avas read in 
town meeting on the 7th of November ; but it is not to be found on the 
Records. 

SECTION 2. — THE LAST WAR WITH ENGLAND. 

It is a part of our national history, that the Eastern States, and es- 
pecially Massachusetts, were opposed to the war of 1812-15, with Great 
Britain ; and that, under the lead of Gov. Strong, Josiah Quincy and 
others, her people were anxious for the return of peace. They believed 
the war was unnecessary, and that the objects for which it was osten- 
sibly waged, could be better secured by peaceful means. In these views 
the inhabitants of Winchendon sympathized. A meeting was held on 
the 10th of August, 1812, " to take the sense of the town on the alarm- 
ing situation of public affairs, and use any constitutional method to al- 



252 HISTORY OF WIXCHENDOX. 

leviate the distress we now suffer, and avert impending calamities, in 
the best method they think proper." A committee of five was chosen 
to prepare a respectful memorial to the President of the United States, 
" expressing our opinion of the present war, and prepare some resolu- 
tions for the acceptance or non-acceptance of the town." Israel Whiton, 
M. D., Isaac Morse, Esq., Daniel Henshaw, Esq., Capt. Joshua Stod- 
dard, and Col. Woodbury were the committee. 

The Memorial and Resolves were read and accepted. Besides send- 
ing them to President Madison, the town voted to have them printed 
in the Worcester Spy. Two agents were then chosen to attend a coun- 
ty Convention called to meet at Worcester, viz : Messrs. Henshaw and 
Prentice. A committee of safety, viz : Samuel Brown, Israel Whiton, 
Jacob B. Woodbury, Paul Raymond and James McElwain, was chosen. 
It was voted that the Memorial and Resolves be signed by the moder- 
ator, Isaac Morse, and the clerk, Mr. Prentice. A committee of nine 
was also chosen to circulate the Memorial for signers. The document 
i3 not to be found. What were the duties of the " Committee of Safe- 
ty," Ave are left to conjecture. 

In 1814, March 7, the question came up: Will the town petition 
the General Court, at their next session, respecting the alarming state 
of our national affairs ? It was referred to a committee of seven to 
draft a petition to the General Court, and report at an adjournment of 
this meeting. Chose Messrs. Henshaw, Morse, Whiton, Prentice, Ez- 
ra Hyde, Jr., Woodbury and McElwain. It was about this time that 
a portion of the town was so much exercised about the Minister's preach- 
ing. The action of the town has been already cited. As Mr. Pillsbury 
was a republican, or Jeffersonian, and sustained the administration, by 
vote, and perhaps sometimes mildly in speech, he was, so far forth, ob- 
noxious to the majority ; but the matter was not pushed, and the excite- 
ment subsided. 

The war, however, continued to agitate the public mind, and accord- 
ingly, on the 30 th of January, 1815, a meeting was called " to take 
into consideration the calamitous state of our country with regard to 
the war, and with particular reference to public taxes ; to see if some 
method can be devised which shall render the same less burden- 
some to this part of the country by choosing a committee to report what 
is most expedient to be done, by petition to the General Court or other- 
wise to act on the same, as may be thought proper." 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDOX. 253 

During the war, it may here be said, the town met every requisition 
made upon it by the State, and voted extra pay to all of her soldiers who 
in any manner rendered service at Boston, or elsewhere near the sea- 
coast. Gov. Strong had a controversy with the General Government; 
he maintaining that the militia of any State was under the orders of 
its constituted authorities, and could not be ordered out of the country 
by the national government. The town went with the Governor, and 
gave him an unwavering support, but was ready to maintain the honor 
of the nation against its foreign foes. Several men from this town, were 
engaged in the service of the United States. Three men enlisted in 
the United States service. One was Seth Sargeant. He was under 
Hull, and became a prisoner at Detroit, in 1812. Another was Joel 
Hancock, who was wounded in the service. The third was Jonas 
Bradish, but he did not serve long. Those of the militia who volun- 
teered when called by the requisition of the President, in 1812, were 
the following seven of the south company, viz : Serg. Levi Raymond, 
Corp. Samuel Hartwell, Reuben Vose, Sr., Gideon Balcom, Leavitt 
Stoddard, Simon Tuttle, Joseph Wyman. The following were mem- 
bers of the north company : Samuel Sargeant, Jr., Jacob Hale, Jr. 
These were called to go wherever the government should send them ; 
but Gov. Strong would not consent to their being taken beyond the 
bounds of the country. 

In 1814, a draft was sent for two men from each company, and a 
volunteer could not be found. Asaph Brown and Samuel Poland were 
drafted. Both hired sustitutes ; Samuel Wiley and James Murdock. 
From the south company, James McElwain and William Brown were 
drafted. The former hired William Hancock, and the latter hired 
Simon Tuttle, Jr. 

On the 30th day of January, the adjourned meeting was held, and 
chose Lt. Paul Raymond, Moderator. Chose a committee as follows : 
Dr. Israel Whiton, Mr. Daniel Henshaw, Col. Jacob B. Woodbury, 
Messrs. Daniel T. Bruce, Samuel Brown, Samuel Noyes and Jacob 
Woodbury. The meeting adjourned for one hour, then met and voted 
to hear the report of the committee. 

"To the Hon. Senate and House of Representatives of the Common- 
wealth of Massachusetts, in General Court assembled : 
The inhabitants of the town of Winchendon in legal town meeting assem- 
bled, would briefly and respectfully represent that we are sensibly impressed 



254 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 

with the evils of the present disastrous war ; and having in vain sought relief 
from thos-ewho were the authors of our calamity, now apply to the legislature of 
ourown Commonwealth, with pride and confidence in theirwisdom, firmness and 
ability to take such means as they may see fit to adopt. And we would avail 
ourselves of this opportunity to express our hearty approbation of the proceed- 
ings of the New England Convention at Hartford. The moderation, wisdom 
and firmness expressed in that important State paper, are calculated to satisfy 
the high expectations excited by the appointment of snch experienced, well- 
tried and distinguished patriots to so important and arduous a trust. We deem 
it unnecessary for the people to point out to their more enlightened represen- 
tatives the various calamities arising from this war by the enormous and unex- 
pled profusion of money, the" appointment of innumerable unskillful and un- 
principled officers civil and military, which infects all parts of our country,, nor 
the imbecility and ill success in which the war is conducted, the impolicy in- 
justice or wickedness, of our rulers in first declaring it, or its baneful effects 
on the morals of the community, as all these are well known to all classes of 
people. 

But as the representatives of so large and respectable a body of people as 
the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, collectively, must be supposed to have 
some influence with our national legislature, it is hoped some method may by 
their wisdom be devised, which shall in some measure relieve the people from 
the insupportable burden of Government Taxes, much of which is borne by 
the poorer classes of people. And whatever measures may be adopted, consist- 
ent with their duty as citizens, they pledge themselves to support." 

" Voted that the report be signed by the Moderator and Clerk, and forward- 
ed to the Legislature." 

Speaking of the war, Dr. Whiton say3 : " A powerful British arma- 
ment appeared on the coast of New England, August, 1814, and after 
the seizure of some places in Maine, threatened the towns on the east- 
ern coast of Massachusetts. A good deal of alarm was felt for the city 
of Boston, and large draughts of militia were marched from the interior 
to the vicinity of the capital, for it3 protection. — With various fluctua- 
tions of disaster and success, by sea and land, the war continued from 
1812 to the beginning of 1815. The news of peace, February, 1815, 
threw the country into almost a delirium of joy. In cities and villages 
men went round with glad hearts and elastic steps to congratulate their 
neighbors. When the news arrived in the night, the firing of cannon, 
the ringing of bells, and the loud shouts in the streets, Peace, Peace, 
aroused the sleepers from their beds to join in the general joy ! In this 





SECOND 


BALLOT. 


Mr. 


Murdock, 


1 vote. 


Mr. 


Greenwood, 


11 votes, 


Mr. 


Henshaw, 


58 " 


Mr. 


Newcomb, 


74 " 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 255 

place, where the war had been from the first, unpopular, there was a 
hearty participation in the public exultation." 

In 1820 there was an animated canvass for Representative. The 
first ballot resulted in no choice. 

Eph'in Murdock, Esq., had 5 votes, 
Mr. Amasa Whitney, 1 " 
Mr. Thomas Greenwood, 13 " 
Daniel Henshaw, Esq., 63 " 
Horatio G.Newcomb,Esq.65 " 

BKCTION 3. CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION IN 1820. 

At a meeting held on the 21st of August, of this year, the question 
which came down from the General Court was : " Is it expedient that 
delegates be chosen to meet in convention for the purpose of revising 
or altering the Constitution of Government of this Commonwealth?'' 
The town voted with the following result : for said measure, 23 ; 
against, 82. 

A majority of the people, however, throughout the Commonwealth 
voted in favor of holding the proposed Convention, and the election of 
delegates took place on the 16th of October. The vote in this town 
was as follows : 

For Ephraim Murdock, Esq., - - - 1 vote. 
" Lieut. Isaac Morse, - - - - - -1 votes. 

" Horatio G. Newcomb, Esq., - - 21 " 

" Samuel Prentiss, Esq., - - - - 74 " 

On the 29th of the following April, the vote was taken on the Amend- 
ments approved by the Convention. This town voted in favor of all 
but three of the fourteen - submitted to the people. These three — the 
1st, 2d and 10th, were rejected by the State, as were also the 5th and 
9th. The articles adopted are those numbered from 1 to 9. in the 
Amendments. 

The 10th Amendment to the State Constitution was rejected on the 
11th of May, 1831, by the following vote : yeas, 34 ; nays, 36. 

In 1833, November 11, the Amendment of the third article of the 
Bill of Rights, was voted upon by the town. It is now numbered as 
Amendment XI, and relates to public worship. The vote was : yeas, 
144 ; nays, 0. The people of Winchendon felt a deep interest in this 



256 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 

subject, being firm friends of religious freedom. In 1881, they bad 
petitioned the Legislature to make this Amendment. 

SECTION 4. — POLITICAL PARTIES. 

The majority of the town were attached to the Federal party from 
the inauguration of Washington to the breaking up of old parties in 
the days of President Monroe. The vote of this town was given for 
Washington, the elder Adams, Pinckney and Rufus King, and against 
Jefferson, Madison and Monroe, until the second election of the latter 
in 1820, when almost all opposition ceased. It was called the " era 
of good feeling," a time of halcyon calm in politics. But as a very 
fair, warm day in winter, is called a " weather-breeder," and is sure 
to be followed by a storm, so in this time of political quiet, the elements 
for a furious agitation which was to convulse the whole country, were 
gathering. The first outbreak of this tempest was felt in 1824, when 
five candidates for the presidency were before the people, viz : Adams, 
Jackson, Crawford, Clay and Calhoun. Neither having received a ma- 
jority of the electoral votes, the House of Representatives elected Mr. 
Adams. Then the storm swelled into a tempest, which raged all through 
the administration of Mr. Adams. The nature of the opposition, as well 
as its violence, was expressed by one of the leaders of the Jackson par- 
ty, in the well-remembered sentiment that the " administration of Mr. 
Adams should be overthrown if he were as pure as the angels of God." 
This town voted for Mr. Adams, in 1824, by a slight vote, there being 
but little opposition to overcome. At the next election, in 1828, the 
lines were drawn closer, and all the votes cast, 82, were for John Quincy 
Adams. The vote for Governor was, for Levi Lincoln, 87, and for 
Marcus Morton, 2. The next year Morton had 4 votes ; and in 1830 
he had 38 to 110 for Lincoln. In 1831, the Anti-Masonic party had 
gathered considerable strength in several of the Northern States, includ- 
ing Massachusetts. The vote in this town for Governor, was, 
For Samuel Lathrop, Anti-Masonic, 76. 

" Levi Lincoln, Whig, 49. 

" Marcus Morton, Democrat, 33. 

In the Presidential election in the year 1832, the town voted as follows : 
For Henry Clay, Whig, 85 votes. 

" Martin Van Buren, Democrat, 64 " 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 257 

For William Wirt, Anti-Masonic, 38 votes. 

In the State election, the vote was 

For Levi Lincoln, 73 " 

" Marcus Morton, 43 " 

" Samuel Lathrop, 65 " 

The next year, the votes for Governor were as follows : 
For John Davis, 52 " 

" John Quincy Adams, 57 " 

" Marcus Morton, 48 " 

In 1836, on amending the Constitution relating to the General Court, 
the Amendment known as the 12th, was voted upon by the town as 
follows : yeas, 150 ; nays, 3. In November, the town went with the 
State in support of the Whig candidate for the Presidency. 

It is not necessary to give minutely the political state of the town, 
from year to year. On a subsequent page the facts relating to State 
and National elections will be presented in tabular form. A brief space 
will be given to the rise and progress of the Anti-Slavery party, under 
its different names. Here it is enough to record that the vote for Mr. 
Morton was, in 1838, 117 against 165 for Mr. Everett, and in 1839, 
181 for Morton to 158 for Everett. This was the culmination of his 
vote. The next year the town went for John Davis, 202 ; Marcus 
Morton, 153. In 1843, he had the same vote as Gov. Briggs, that 
is, 160 ; when Samuel E. Sewall had 16 votes. 

SECTION 5. THE SURPLUS REVENUE, 

The income of the United States Treasury, from various sources, 
but principally from Customs, during the last term of Gen. Jackson's 
administration, was far beyond the expenditures of the government. 
This surplus revenue, as it was called, to the amount of about 137,000, 
000, was distributed equally among the several States, with the proviso 
that it should be paid back when demanded by the national government. 
The Legislature of Massachusetts distributed the portion of this money 
which fell to the Commonwealth, among the cities and towns, according 
to population. The amount which came to this town was $3,729. 

The question came up at a meeting held on the 1st of May, 1837, 
as to what action the town would take in relation to the matter ; where- 
upon it was voted, 

" That this town agrees to receive from the Treasurer and Receiver 

17 



25 S HISTORY OF WlNCHEtfDOlT. • 

General of the Commonwealth, its proportion of the Surplus Revenue 
of the United States, in deposit, and will comply with the terms of the 
several acts passed by the Legislature of the Commonwealth concern- 
ing the deposit of the Surplus Revenue. 

" Voted, that Isaac Morse, Esq., be the Agent of the town for the purpose 
of receiving from the Treasurer and Receiver General of the Commonwealth, 
this town's proportion of the suid Treasurer's deposit. 

Voted, that Isaac Morse, Esq., Agent as aforesaid, be and he hereby is 
authorized to sign a certificate of deposit for the sums of money he may receive 
from time to time from the said Treasurer and Receiver General of this Com- 
monwealth, binding the town, in its corporate capacity, for the repayment to 
said Treasurer, of the money so deposited with this town, and any and every 
part thereof, whenever the same shall be required by said Treasurer and Re- 
ceiver General, to be by him refunded to the Secretary of the Treasury of the 
United States." 

Though provision was thus carefully made for the repayment of the 
funds deposited, there was probably no expectation on the part of Con- 
gress, in depositing, or the States in receiving the deposits, that the 
money would ever be called for by the nation. Some of the States dis- 
tributed the money so that the people received it, and used it in pay- 
ing their own personal expenses. Some of the towns and cities, in certain 
States, created funds for educational or other useful purposes. This 
town took the following action, on motion of Mr. Elisha Gregory, viz ; 

" Voted, that the Treasurer of said town on receipt of the town's proportion 
of the Surplus Revenue, pay the debts now owing by said town, and the res- 
idue, if any, to lot to individuals, in small sums, say not less than $100, nor 
more than $500, to any one man, for one year, interest annually, and in case 
the interest is not paid within twenty days of the time it may fall due, the 
principal shall be called for." 

In 1842 there was a close vote for Representative to the General 
Court. Henry Greenwood had 164 votes; Levi Parks, 162 ; and Moses 
Hancock, 1. 

SECTION 6. — CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS. 

In 1840, another Amendment to the Constitution, now marked XIII, 
came before the people for consideration. It also related to the Gen- 
eral Court, like the preceding one, and on the second of April, this town 
voted in its favor, yeas, 48 ; nays, 2. 



HISTORY OP WINCHENDON. 259 

In 1852, on the 7th of May, an Act was passed, calling upon the 
people to vote upon the question of calling a Constitutional Convention. 
A majority of the people having voted in favor of the proposed Conven- 
tion, the election of delegates took place on the 7th of March, 1858. 
Rev. A. P. Marvin was chosen delegate from this town. The action of 
the Convention was submitted to the people for approval or rejection, on 
the 14th of November. This town voted in favor of all the proposed eight 
Amendments, by large majorities, but they were rejected by the State. 
Several Amendments substantially like some of those rejected in 1853, 
were ratified in subsequent years, but it will not be necessary to give 
a circumstantial statement in respect to them. 

It may not be improper to mention that one proposition which was 
submitted to the Convention by the delegate from this town, and which 
was withdrawn by the mover, to save it from anticipated defeat, was 
brought up in the General Court in 1856 and 1857, and ratified by the 
people May 1st, 1857. It is the Amendment numbered XX, and is 
in these words : 

" No person shall have the right to vote, or be eligible to office under the 
Constitution of this Commonwealth, who shall not be able to read the Con- 
stitution in the English language, and write his name : provided, however, that 
the provisions of this Amendment shall not apply to any person prevented by 
a physical disability from complying with its requisitions, nor to any person 
who now has the right to vote, nor to any persons who shall be sixty years 
of age, or upwards at the time this Amendment shall take effect." 

SECTION 7. THE PARTY OP FREEDOM. 

It was stated, on a former page, that space would be reserved for a 
brief account of the rise and progress of the party which was distinct- 
ively known as opposed, not only to the extension, but the existence of 
slavery. Nothing will be said in a partisan spirit, nor will it be implied 
that there were not many in the old parties who were sincerely opposed 
to human bondage. But the political history of the town cannot be giv- 
en, without showing how the voters acted in reference to the question 
of slavery. In the autumn of 1840, two votes were given in this town 
for James G. Birney, the candidate of the Liberty party for the office 
of President of &e United States. One of these votes was given by 
Dr. Alvah Godding, the other, probably, by the late Mr. David Poland. 
For other candidates, about 350 votes were cast at the same election-. 



260 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 

In 1842, Samuel E. Sewall had nine votes for the office of Gover- 
nor. Mr. Luke Rice had by this time, if not before, joined the little 
band. In 1844, the vote for Mr. Birney, for President, had increased 
to 43, and for Mr. Sewall, for Governor, to 41. The author was set- 
tled in the beginning of this year, and records with pleasure that he 
belonged to this vanguard of freedom. The whole vote for President 
was 361. In 1845, Mr. Sewall had 45 votes ; the next year, 59 ; and 
the next, 71 ; while the votes of the other parties had decreased. Thus, 
in 1847, Mr. Briggs had 122 votes ; Mr. Cushing, 98 ; and Mr. Sew- 
all, 71. 

The year 1848 witnessed a most exciting struggle. Gen. Taylor was 
the candidate of the Whig party ; Gen. Cass, of the Democratic party, 
and Mr. Van Buren, by a great political blunder on the part of the 
friends of freedom, of the Free-Soil party. If the right man had been 
set up, by the Frce-Soilers, their vote in Massachusetts would have been 
much larger than it was. There was no confidence in Mr. Van Buren 
as an anti-slavery man. He was brought forward by those who wished 
to defeat Gen. Cass, in revenge for his desertion of Mr. Van Buren, 
four years previously. But as he had been discarded by his party on 
account of his known hostility to the acquisition .of Texas as a slave- 
holding state, he was voted for by many as the least of three evils. 
The vote in this town was as follows : Gen. Taylor had 98 votes ; Gen. 
Cass, 45 ; and Mr. Van Buren, 263. Here was a complete revolution. 
This was true of the County and the whole Congressional district. The 
Hon. Charles Allen took the place of the Hon. Charles Hudson in Con- 
gress. In 1852, Hon. John P. Hale received 176 votes for President ; 
Gen. Scott, 138 ; and Mr. Pierce, 63. In 1854, the town passed a 
strong Resolve against Senator Douglas' Kansas-Nebraska bill. 

In 1856, the Republican party was formed, and absorbed, with few 
exceptions, the members of the old Liberty and Free-Soil organizations. 
The town went strongly for Col. Fremont. In 1860, and also in 1864, 
the town gave a large majority for Abraham Lincoln, whose name is 
consecrated forever in the hearts of the friends of human freedom in 
all lands. 

VOTES FOR PRESIDENT AND GOVERNOR. 

The vote of Winchendon for candidates for the office of President of 
the United States, and also for Governor of the Commonwealth, since 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 



261 



the century came in, here follow. In the case of the national officers, 
the names of the candidates rather than of the presidential electors are 



given. 

1800. President* 
John Adams, 
Thomas Jefferson. 

Governor. 



Caleb Strong 
Elbridge Gerry 

1801. 
Caleb Strong " 

Elbridge Gerry *" 

Fisher Ames " 

1802. 
Caleb Strong 
Elbridge Gerry " 

1803. 
Caleb Strong u 

Elbridge Gerry " 

1804. President. 
C C. Pinckney, 
Thomas Jefferson " 

Governor. 
Caleb Strong 

1805. 
Caleb Strong 
James Sullivan 

1800. 
Caleb Strong 
James Sullivan *' 

1807. 
Caleb Strong 
James Sullivan " 

Levi Lincoln '* 

1808. President* 
James Madison, 
Charles C. Pinckney. 

Governor. 
James Sullivan " 



had 45 votes. 

«, 19 « 

" 54 " 

« 22 " 

" 1 " 

" 98 " 

" 16 » 

« 77 « 

" 10 " 

72 " 

41 " 

109 " 

103 " 

45 " 

120 " 

47 " 

122 " 

39 " 

1 " 



40 



Christopher Gore had 129 votes. 

John Quincy Adams " 1 " 

Thomas Knowlton ' " 1 " 

1809. 

Christopher Gore "135 *' 

Levi Lincoln " 55 " 

1810. 

Elbridge Gerry, " 46 " 

Christopher Gore " 126 ** 

1811. 

Elbridge Gerry " 48 ** 

Christopher Gore " 108 " 

1812. President* 
* James Madison, 
DeWitt Clinton. 

Governor. 

Caleb Strong " 148 " 

Elbridge Gerry " 47 M 

1813. 

Caleb Strong " 169 " 

Joseph B. Varaum *' 39 M 

1814. 

Caleb Strong " 167 " 

Samuel Dexter " 42 ** 

1815. 

Caleb Strong " 168 " 

Samuel Dexter 52 " 

1816. Presidents 
James Monroe, 
llufus King. 

Governor. 

John Brooks " 164 " 

Samuel Dexter " 59 *' 

1817. 

John Brooks " 144* w 

Henry Dearborn, " 44 " 

John Crosby " 1 " 



Not recorded, but Mr. Adams kad a large majority, *Not recorded. 



262 



HISTOKY OP WINCHENDOff. 



1818. 




1829. 




John Brooks had 130 votes. 


Levi Lincoln 


had 87 


B. W. Crowninshield " 


41 " 


Marcus Morton 


" 4 


1819. 




1830. 




John Brooks " 


153 " 


Levi Lincoln 


" 110 


B. W. Crowninshield 


28 " 


Marcus Morton 


" 38 


1820. President. 




1831. 




James Monroe 




Levi Lincoln 


" 49 


Governor. 




Marcus Morton 


" 33 


John Brooks " 


133 " 


Samuel Lathrop 


" 76 


B. W. Crowninshield " 


34 " 


1832. President. 


1821. 


- 


Andrew Jackson 


" 64 


John Brooks 


119 " 


Henry Clay 


" 85 


William Eustis 


38 " 


William Wirt 


" 38 


Josiah Quincy 


1 " 


Governor 




1822. 




Levi Linco-ln 


" 73 


John Brooks 
William Eustis 


116 " 
44 " 


Marcus Morton 
Samuel Lathrop 
John Davis 


" 43 
" 65 

" 52 


1823. 




1833. 




William Eustis 


64 " 


John Q. Adams 


" 57 


Harrison Gray Otis 


140 " 


Marcus Morton 


•« 48 


1824. President. 




1834. 




John Quincy Adams " 


49 " 


John Davis 


" 137 


Andrew Jackson 


30 " 


Marcus Morton 


16 66 


Governor. 




1835. 




William Eustis. 




Edward Everett 


" 88 


18-25. 




Marcus Morton 


" 69 


Levi Lincoln 


77 " 


1836. President 




William Sullivan 


3 " 


Martin Van Buren 


" 77 


1826. 




Daniel Webster 


" 113 


Levi Lincoln " 


66 " 


Governor 




Samuel Hubbard " 


62 " 


Edward Everett 


" 113 


James Lloyd 


1 " 


Marcus Morton 


" 75 


1827. 




1837. 




Levi Lincoln " 


92 " 


Edward Everett! 


" 181 


James Lloyd " 


2 " 


Marcus Morton 


" 110 


1828. President. 




1838. 




Andrew Jackson " 


00 " 


Edward Everett 


" 165 


John Quincy Adams " 


82 " 


Marcus Morton 


», 117 


Governor. 




1839. 




Levi Lincoln " 


87 " 


Edward Everett 


" 158 


Marcus Morton " 


2 " 


Maveus Morton 


" 181 



votes. 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 



■zm 



1840. President. 
Wm. Henry Harrison had 211 votes. 

Martin Van Buren " 125 " 

Governor. 

Marcus Morton "145 " 

John Davis " 202 " 

1841. 

John Davis "158 " 

Marcus Morton "138 " 

1842. 

John Davis " 160 " 

Marcus Morton "153 " 

Samuel E. Sewall " 9 " 
1843. 

Marcus Morton "160 " 

Geo. N. Briggs "160 " 

Samuel B. Sewall " 16 " 

1844. President. 

James K. Polk " 143 " 

Henry Clay " 175 " 

James G. Birney " 43 " 

Governor. 

George N. Briggs "183 " 

George Bancroft " 145 " 

Samuel E. Sewall •* 41 " 

1845. 

George N. Brings 174 " 

Isaac Davis "119 " 

Samuel E. Sewall " 45 " 

1846. 

George N. Brings 123 " 

Isaac Davis ' : 89 " 

Samuel E. Sewall " 59 " 

1847. 

George N. Briggs " 122 " 

o DO 

Caleb Gushing " 98 " 

Samuel E. Sewall " 71 " 

1848. President. 

Zachary Taylor " 98 " 

Lewis Cass " 45 " 

Martin Van Buren "263 " 

Governor. 

George N. Briggs " 75 " 

Caleb €ushing " 27 " 

Stephen C. Phillips " 220 " 



1849. 

George N. Briggs 
Stephen C. Phillips 
George S. Boutwell 

1850. 
George N. Briggs ' 

Stephen C. Phillips 
George S. Boutwell ' 
Francis Coggswell 

1851. 

George S. Boutwell 
John G. Palfrey 
Robert C. Winthrop 

1852. President. 
Franklin Pierce ' 

Winfield Scott 
John P. Hale 



had 114 votes. 

" 169 " 

" 25 " 

" 136 " 

" 169 " 

" 45 " 

" 11 " 



Governor. 



John H. Clifford 
Horace Mann 
Henry W. Bishop 

1853. 
Emory Washburn 
Henry Wilson 
H. W. Bishop 

1854. 
Henry J. Gardner 
Henry Wilson 
Emory Washburn 
H. W T . Bishop 

1855. 
Henry J. Gardner 
Julius Rockwell 
Samuel H. Walley 
Erasmus D. Beach 

1856. President. 

James Buchanan 
John C. Fremont 
John Bell 

Governor. 

Henry J. Gardner 
Erasmus D. Beach 
Luther V, Bell 



79 
186 
149 

63 
138 
176 

" 155 
" 190 

" 80 

" 122 
" 170 
" 60 

" 260 

" 44 

" 5.2 

" 19 

" 164 
" 110 
" 44 

" 49 



77 

400 

20 



279 
79 
19 



264 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDOff. 



1857. 
Nathaniel P. Banks 
Henry J. Gardner 
Erasmus D. Beaeh 

1858. 
Nathaniel P. Banks 
Amos A. Lawrence 
E. D. Beach 

1859. 
Nathaniel P. Banks 
Benjamin F. Butler 
George N. Briggs 

1860. President, 
Abraham Lincoln 
Stephen A. Douglas 
John Bell 
John C. Breckenridge 

Governor 

John A. Andrew 
Erasmus D. Beach 
Amos A. Lawrence 

1861. 
John A. Andrew 
Isaac Davis 



had 209 votes. 


" 111 


(i 


" 57 


cc 


" 206 


<( 


" 41 


M 


" 46 


(1 


" 199 


II 


" 76 


CI 


* 37 


II 


it. 
" 361 


It 


" 82 


M 


" 45 


II 


1 


l< 


r. 
" 344 


u 


•' 89 


II 


" 45 


If 


" 312 


II 


" 101 


II 



1862. 

John A. Andrew 
Charles Devins 

Congress. 
William B. "Washburn 
Charles Brinblecom 
1863. 

Governor. 
John A. Andrew 
Henry W. Paine 

1864. President 
Abraham Lincoln 
George B. McClellan 

Governor. 
John A. Andrew 
Henry W. Paine 

1865. 
Alexander H. Bullock 
Darius N. Couch 

1866. 

Alexander H. Bullock 
Theodore H. Sweetzer 

1867. 
Alexander H. Bullock 



had 240 votes. 
" 99 " 

338 " 

2 « 



216 

60 

407 
105 

402 
107 

218 
33 

275 
35 

418 
11& 



John Quincy Adams 

It will be seen, by reviewing the above election returns, that public 
opinion, in this town, has set in a steady current, almost without clevi 
ation, from the beginning. The inhabitants in the " times which tried 
men's souls," were strong patriots. They either entered the service, 
in the Revolution, or if they remained at home, they contributed large- 
ly according to their means, in sustaining the Continental Congress 
through the mighty struggle. In the Shays troubles they felt the pres- 
sure of the times, and sympathized with those who sought and obtained 
a redress of grievances ; but they never, in their corporate capacity, 
sanctioned any treasonable, or unlawful measures ; and not many, if 
indeed more than one of their number, joined the insurgents in acts of 
violence. 

Winchendon went with the majority of New England, in the support 
of the measures of the Federal party, as long as that party maintained 
an existence. For a single year, when matters were somewhat con- 
fused and mixed up throughout the State, in regard to the best mode- 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 265 

of dealing with the liquor question, the vote of the town was given for 
Gov. Morton. In 1853-6, the people here, with some exceptions, joined 
in that singular and brief episode in our political life, the American or 
" Know-Nothing" movement. Still later, in 1848, the town broke away 
from the Whig party ; but in this, only anticipated, by a few years, the 
course of the whole State. The love of freedom has ever character- 
ized the citizens ; but this has always been accompanied by a regard 
for law, and a proper respect for constituted authority. It was then 
but a natural effect of our whole history, when the inhabitants, with 
remarkable unanimity, gave men and means, in large measure, to aid 
in suppressing the wicked and infamous rebellion of the slave-holding 
oligarchy, in the years 1861-65. The spirit of the fathers and moth- 
ers in the old heroic days of the republic, burned brightly in the hearts 
of their children. The great cause for which the Pilgrims came hith- 
er, and for which the successive generations of their descendants con- 
tended, was vindicated in the last great war of liberty and law ; 

"For Freedom's battle oft begun, 
Bequeathed from bleeding sire to son, 
Though baffled oft, is ever won." 



206 HISTORY OF WINCHEXDOX. 



CHAPTER XVII.— SUPPORT OF THE POOR. 



" Pity the sorrows of a poor old man 

Whose trembling limbs have borne him to your door, 
Whose days are dwindled to the shortest span; 

Oh, give relief, and heaven shall bless your store." 

TOE BEGGAR'S PETITION. 

SECTION 1. — PROVISION FOR THE POOR IN EARLY TIMES. 

It is hardly supposable that there were any persons in the township 
for several years after its settlement, who needed support from the com- 
munity. Such persons have not the health, or the wit, or the enter- 
prise, out of which new settlers arc made. They would not be encour- 
aged to come ; and in some cases, as soon as they appeared, they were 
warned out of town. If the warning was not sufficient, the constable 
was called upon to convey them to the place whence they came, or 
wherever the}' had a legal settlement. 

"When, in the course of time, by reason of age or infirmity, adults, 
or when by the loss of friends, children Avere in need of protection, the 
kindness of neighbors was relied upon to meet their wants. Sometimes 
poor families were aided occasionally from the cellars and wardrobes of 
those who were more prosperous. Simple-minded and half-witted persons 
were allowed to stroll around the country, and pick up a precarious liv- 
ing from the kind-hearted. Not seldom they were the sport of thought- 
less or cruel boys. Beggars were allowed to go from house to house, 
and being almost always of the same nationality, and not being numer- 
ous, they were fed, and to a certain extent, clothed. Sometimes indi- 
viduals or families who were permanently dependent, received aid from 
the town. But while none were permitted to suffer, the general senti- 
ment of the public did not encourage laziness or mendicancy. Self- 
help was one of the laws of Puritan society, while there was the utmost 
readiness to help those who were really in need of pecuniary aid. 

Some years after the incorporation of the town, the Records mention 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDOJT. 267 

the name of a woman who was supplied with some of the necessaries of 
life, including rum. According to the ideas prevalent in those days, 
a moderate amount of spirituous liquor was considered as a proper al- 
lowance to the poor. Still later, the widow of an early settler, and 
herself the mother of a large number of respectable descendants, was 
aided by the town. It is thought best not to give the names of those 
who received support from the public, as there is a proper delicacy due 
to those who are unfortunate. 

Another matter, referred to under another head, may be noticed in 
this connection. In 1704, January 0, a meeting was called to " take 
into consideration the request of Sally Lord." Upon inquiry it is found 
that she was the only daughter of Rev. Mr. Stimpson who survived in- 
fancy. One son also, Luther Stimpson, who married Sally McElwain, 
grew up to manhood. The daughter of Mr. Stimpson became the wife 
of Bomsley Lord, and had a dowry of about one thousand dollars. Af- 
ter getting possession of as much of this as he could, he deserted his 
wife, and went off to distant parts. 

In consideration of her hard fortune, or for some other unknown rea- 
son, the town voted that she " should improve the house" she then oc- 
cupied ; and " also the red shop," during the town's pleasure. The 
Selectmen were to assist her in " conducting the matter according to 
their best discretion." So far as this action sprung from grateful re- 
membrance of the first minister's services, it was honorable to the town. 
Mrs. Lord afterwards became the wife of a Mr. Brown, a man of char- 
acter and respectability, and had several children. 

SECTION 2. — BIDDING OFF THE POOR. 

The next step in the way of supporting the poor, was the singular, 
and now almost forgotten practice of having them put up at auction, 
and bid off to the lowest bidder. This was sometimes called " selling 
the poor." Careless readers of the Records might hastily infer that 
this was a relic of white slavery, when it was simply a mode of provid- 
ing homes for the weak and indigent. Suppose a family consisting of 
an infirm man, who yet might do some slight work ; of an old woman, 
who could render a little aid in the household ; and a boy old enough 
to drive the cows and drop corn. How shall they be provided for ? 
Instead of going from house to house, to find a home for them, this 



268 HISTORY OP WINCHENDON. 

course was pursued. On an appointed day, a vendue was held, and 
men were called upon to say what they would charge for the support 
of the family, for one year. The bidders would take into consideration 
their own conveniences for having such a family in their houses ; what 
their board and clothing would cost ; how much they could reasonably 
expect to get in return by way of labor ; and putting all things together, 
they made their bids. He who would take the family for the least sum 
of money, had them put into his charge, by the Selectmen, or the Over- 
seers of the Poor. But they exercised their discretion. If the man 
who made the lowest bid was not of good character ; if he were hard 
and cruel ; if he was one "who would scrimp and abuse the poor, the of- 
ficers could decline to deliver these wards of the town to his keeping. 
Besides, it was often stipulated that children thus " bid off," should 
have so many weeks or months of schooling, annually. In addition to 
these safeguards, an enlightened and humane public sentiment went far 
to guard the poor from ill-treatment. It was competent for the Select- 
men, at any time, to take the custody of the poor into their own hands, 
if they were subject to abuse or unkindness. Perhaps this was the best 
policy that could be pursued before the towns entered upon the more 
modern plan of providing houses and farms for the support of the poor. 

What were the sentiments of the inhabitants of Winchendon, in 1817, 
in relation to this important subject, may be inferred from the follow- 
ing action. On the first of December, a committee was chosen to con- 
sider the measures most conducive to the interest of the town for the 
support of the poor. Through their chairman, Lt. Paul Raymond, they 
reported the following, probably from the pen of Esq. Henshaw. 

" They arc not insensible to the importance of the subject committed to 
their consideration, nor the obligations clue from society to extend the hand 
of charity in comfortably supporting those whom adverso fortune has brought 
to want." 

After a full preamble, containing general principles, the Report rec- 
ommends : 

" 1. That the Overseers of the Poor, after posting, shall receive such seal- 
ed proposals as may be offered, for each lot of persons described in the poster, 
on the first of November. 

2. Children shall be put out to live with some suitable person, until 14, 
with due regard to schooling and clothing. Then bind them till the time they 
become free by law. If boys, put them to some useful trade. 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 269 

3. Persons out of town, but legally the poor thereof, to be immediately 
brought into the town, and afforded necessary assistance. 

4. Persons not applying for assistance, but not constantly and industri- 
ously following some calling from which to gain subsistence, to be noticed and 
brought to use necessary industry, and their children bound out to some use- 
ful trade or employment. In this regard, the Overseers of the Poor rigidly 
to enforce the law. 

They further recommend to the inhabitants of the town to discountenance 
as far as possible, the removal within the limits thereof, of people in indigent 
circumstances, by which means the town is frequently put to great trouble and 
expense." 

The closing paragraph of the Report touches upon a subject which 
perhaps would find its appropriate place in another chapter, but as it 
refers to one of the principal causes of pauperism, it falls in naturally 
here. It is as follows : 

" To one other consideration, your committee call the attention of their fel- 
low citizens, viz : to licensed houses and retailers. The laws regulating each, 
are good and wholesome, but we regret to say that in our opinion, they are 
broken with an impunity which requires redress. They therefore recommend 
that whenever it shall come to the knowledge of the Selectmen, that any tav- 
ern-keeper or retailer shall sell spirituous liquors to persons, having been for- 
bidden to do the same, according to law, that they immediately cause a pros- 
ecution to be commenced against such offenders, and if persisted in, withhold 
from them theif approbation for another year." 

SECTION 3. — TOWN-FARM AND POOR-HOUSE. 

The time had finally come for the*initiation of a new policy in regard 
to the employment ands upport of the indigent and the helpless. In 
1828, February 6, the town chose a committee, — Benjamin Adams, 
Joseph Bobbins, Isaac Morse, Israel Whitcomb and Jacob Woodbury, 
— " to see on what terms the town can purchase a farm suitable for 
supporting the poor, and also an estimate of the probable expenses of 
stocking the farm, and also the actual expenses of hiring a superintend- 
ent." This committee brought in a Report, on the 18th, which con- 
cludes in these words : " Your committee beg leave to represent, that 
in their opinion, it is* expedient for the town to appoint a committee of 
seven to purchase or hire a farm on which to support and employ the 
poor," etc. 



270 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 

The following gentlemen were chosen a committee for the above- 
mentioned purpose, viz : Isaac Morse, Benjamin Adams, Israel Whit- 
comb, Jacob Wales, Amasa Whitney, Jacob Woodbury and Ephraim 
Murdock. On the third of March following, the committee submitted 
the following 

REPORT. 

" We, the subscribers, a committee chosen by the town to purchase a farm, 
or in some suitable way to provide for the maintenance of the poor, have at- 
tended to that service, and after duly considering the subject, having econo- 
my aiid philanthropy for our guide, have come to the conclusion to purchase 
a farm. And accordingly have purchased the farm on which Mr. Lewis Wil- 
der lately lived, for the sum of twenty-two hundred and seventy-seven dollars, 
interest after the first April nest. Also have made some arrangements for a 
considerable part of the money that will probably be wanted this spring. Your 
committee have further agreed with Mr. James Fry for one year as Superin- 
tendent, for the sum of two hundred and tea dollars, himself, and wife, and 
two children; said Fry to find bed only for his own family; his other furniture and 
farming tools to bo used when wanted for the benefit of the town, by the town 
making good what may be broken. Said Fry to make proper allowance for 
lost time, in case of sickness of himself or wife. Likewise have contracted 
with Mr. Fry for one yoke of oxen, two cows, about two tons of good English 
hay, and one shote. for one hundred and thirty dollars. Also, a quantity of 
pork and beef, grain, butter, potatoes, which will probably amount to near 
two hundred dollars more. More stock and provisions wilL^ doubtless be 
wanted." 

The committee, in closing, take up the strain of their predecessors, • 
in 1817, and refer as follows to the great source of pauperism and crime 
in the community. They felt the effects of license, and therefore spoke 
in plain terms. 

" In view of the alarming increase and expense of paupers, your committee 
would state for your consideration, and particularly the Selectmen, the expe- 
diency of immediately posting those who make too free use of spirituous li- 
quors, and committing to the work-house those who arc idle and mis-spending 
their time. Your committee further recommend that the Overseers be request- 
ed to make out a judicious, mild, coercive code of by-laws for the due regula- 
tion of said poor-house. 

At this meeting the town directed that the poor-house should be a 
work-house ; and authorized the Overseers to devise, adopt and enforce 



HISTORY OP WINCIIENDON. 271 

a suitable system for the regulation thereof. The Selectmen were au- 
thorized to borrow $1000 for the purchase of the poor-farm. 

The " posting" referred to in the above extract, was an ancient cus- 
tom by which men who were not wholly lost to shame, were sometimes 
coerced into good behavior. If a man was idle and given to haunting 
taverns and to drinking ; in modern phrase, if he became an intemperate 
" loafer," after due admonition, he was " posted," and all persons were 
forbidden to supply him with intoxicating drinks. One citizen of this 
town, who was not conscious to what a depth of degradation he had de- 
scended, till rudely awakened by this process, remarked that " it was 
worse than dying." 

The recommendation of the committee that a code of by-laws should 
be drawn up for the government of the farm and work-house, was adopt- 
ed, and in the year 18-32, the Rules and Regulations were put in force. 
At the same time, it was voted to " build a work-house on the poor- 
farm, the ensuing year." Esq. Murdock, Col. Adams and Israel Whit- 
comb were chosen a committee to see the work done. 

The Rules and Regulations above mentioned, were drawn up with 
care, and seem well adapted to secure good government and proper 
management in the care of the unfortunate. Owing to their length, 
and their liability to alteration, from time to time, it is not deemed ne- 
cessary to insert them here. It is sufficient to state that while they con- 
fer all needful power on the keeper, they also place him under needful 
restraints, so that the poor and weak shall not be abused. 

At subsequent times, additions have been made to the farm, and alter- 
ations in the buildings, as necessity or convenience required. In 1836, 
it was voted to have the buildings on the poor-farm insured. In 1837, 
it was voted to purchase a wood lot for the poor-farm, — the Grout lot, 
85 acres, for $625. In April, 1839, a committee was authorized to 
build " necessary additions to the town farm-house." 

The Insane were formerly provided for at the poor-farm to a great- 
er extent than in recent years, since better arrangements and treatment 
have come into vogue in Hospitals and Retreats for the Insane. In ac- 
cordance with this practice, the town voted, in 1842, March 7, that 
E. Murdock, Jr., "VJ/ebster Whitney and John Cutter, be a committee 
" to build a house in addition for the insane." A grant of $500 was 
made for the purpose. 



272 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 



In June, 1849, the Overseers of the poor were directed to send " Mr. 
Cheshire to Liverpool if it can be done for reasonable expense." He 
was an Englishman who " had seen better days," but was now in re- 
duced circumstances. Mr. John D. Dunbar joined with the town in 
sending him to his native land, with suitable clothing. He was sent at 
an expense of $59.00 to the town. 

SECTION 5. — EXPENSE OP SUPPORTING THE POOR. 

The annual expense for sustaining the poor-house, above the income, 
during the last twenty years, is given below. The expenses in the col- 
umn relating to the poor-farm, include the pay of the master, but omit 
the interest of money paid for the farm, tools, &c. Nor is account 
taken of improvements. 



Cost of Poor Farm. 

1848, $202 71 

1850, 255 12 

1851, 278 30 

1852, 420 65 

1853, 469 61 

1854, 286 84 

1855, 385 34 

1856, 582 73 

1857, 589 82 

1858, 800 33 

1859, 650 12 

1860, 457 22 

1861, 538 85 

1862, 665 79 

1863, 443 85 

1864, 360 72 

1865, '.__256 87 

1866, 253 14 

1867, 574 38 

1868, 1125 30 



Support of Poor away from Farm. 
$251 51 



Not given. 



443 90 
43144 
576 55 
234 77 
259 59 
72 08 
125 50 
326 18 
254 53 
197 26 
273 09 
336 94 
269 87 
232 73 
340 13 
714 01 
681 80 
33162 



In the above tables the year must be understood as terminating on 
or near the first of March, and the amount set against any year refers 
to the year preceding. For example, 1868 refers to the year begin- 
ning on the first of March, 1867, and ending March 1, 1868. 

In concluding this chapter, it may be truly said, that the town has 
been guided by " philanthropy" as well as " economy," in caring for 
the poor and friendless. The farm is a good one ; the house is large 



1829 


u 


1831, 


1831 


a 


1837, 


1837 


a 


1839, 


1839 


a 


1841, 


1841 


a 


1853, 


1853 


a 


1855, 


1855 


a 


1856. 


1856 


a 


1858 


1858 


a 


1862, 


1862 


a 


1866 


1866 


a 


1868 



HISTORY OP WINCHENDON. 273 

and convenient ; the water is pure ; the location is pleasant and health- 
ful ; the supply of food and clothing has been sufficient ; the oversight 
of the Overseers has been vigilant, and the Masters with their wives, 
have been faithful and efficient. The following are the names of those 
who have had the care of the poor, and the management of the farm. 

Mr. James Fry, from 1828 to 1829. 

Mr. Lincoln Reed, 

Dea. John Cutter, 

Mr. Joel Brooks, 

Mr. Levi Hancock, 

Dea. John Cutter, 

Mr. Gilman Wyman, 

Mr. Reuben Bemis, 

Capt, Joseph Whitney, 

Mr. Lewis, 

Mr. Josiah J. Dunn, 

Mr. John Raymond, Jr., 

Without any disparagement to others, it is proper to say that the town 
is much indebted to Dea. Cutter for his management of the property, 
and that the inmates of the poor-house have great occasion to be grate- 
ful to him and Mrs. Cutter, for their fidelity, patience and kindness. 
They — and the same may be said in general, of their successors — have 
felt an interest in the spiritual welfare of their wards, and it has been 
the practice to have religious meetings for the benefit of the inmates of 
the house, whenever the ministers of the town could attend them ; and 
also at other times ; besides the regular devotions of the family. 

" Blessed is he that considereth the poor," says one who speaks in 
the name of the great Father of all. This is a benediction which a town 
as well as an individual may covet. And when we remember that no 
one is exempt from the liability to find his home in the alms-house, the 
duty to sympathize with the poor is strengthened. There have been, 
and are still, representatives of some of the most respectable families 
in the town, in the poor-house. Some of these are persons of great mor- 
al worth, and they appreciate every attention and every act of consid- 
erate kindness. " He that hath pity on the poor lendeth to the Lord." 



18 



274 HISTORY OF wisrcHESfttosr, 



CHAPTER XVI1L— W1NCHENDON AT LAW. 



" I oft have beard him say how he admifd 
Men of your large profession, that could speafc 
To every cause, and things mere contraries, 
Till they were hoarse again, and all be law/' 

Ben Johnson. 
"The glorious Uncertainty of the law." 

Coke. 

The town has been involved, at different periods, in legal perplexi- 
ties and expense- Sometimes, the ease had reference to the support 
of the poor. The question was, what town is under legal obligation to 
take care of this individual or family ? At other times, legal measures 
were taken to collect taxes and other dues. At others, the town was 
indicted by the Grand Jury, or mulcted by the'proper authority in ex- 
pense for not keeping the public roads in good repair. Some of these 
cases have been glanced at in connection with other topics. In this 
place, a more particular, though brief review of the town's experience 
in relation to " the glorious uncertainty of the law" will be taken. 

SECTION 1.-— TAX AND POVERTY CASES. 

In 1789, Jonathan Stimpson was thrown into jail on account of the 
non-payment of his taxes. But instead of paying them to get out of 
jail, he for some reason, remained there, and it became necessary for 
the town to see to his support. The creditor was obliged to pay the 
board of the poor debtor in jail. Besides, if the father were shut up, 
who would support his family ? Rather a serious question for the town 
to decide. An article in the warrant for the meeting held on the 8th 
of May, was " to see what method the town will take to said Stimpson 
and his family." And after consideration, the town voted " to let out 
said Stimpson upon the best conditions for the town they can." This 
Was not so much a case in law, as an effort, by legal means, to obtain 
what was due. Probably the cost was far greater than the taxes due. 



HISTORY 0¥ WINCHENDON. 275 

It is mentioned in another place, that Thaddeus Bowman, and his 
son by the same name, left the town while in its debt. After suitable 
efforts to obtain its dues, the town went to law and obtained a decision 
in its favor. The land of the Bowmans, in Weathersfield, Vt., was taken 
hy execution, and Mr. Amos Heywood, in September, 1792, was cho- 
sen agent to make sale of the property so taken. On the 24th of Sep- 
tember, Samuel Prentice was authorized to prosecute those who had not 
fulfilled their obligaticns in respect to building the new meeting-house. 

Towards the close of the same year, the town had a law-suit before 
the Court of Common Pleas, at Worcester, with Luther Stimpson, re- 
specting the support of Mrs. Thankful Stimpson. She was his grand- 
mother, now aged, and as it appears, dependent. Moses Hale was agent 
•of the town, in conducting the case. He employed Esq. Paine and Esq. 
Strong as counsel. The decision was in favor of the town. 

In the year 1799, the Grand Inquest for the body of the county, 
found an indictment against the town, for not making, and keeping in 
repair a new county road that was laid out in 1797, in the northerly 
part of the town. Moses Hale was chosen the agent of the town to ap- 
pear in its behalf at the next Court of General Sessions of the Peace, 
to make answer, 

SECTION 2. — THE MINISTER'S CASE. 

The most expensive case, and the one that enlisted the most feeling, 
in the whole history of the town, was that in reference to the damages 
due to Rev. Mr. Brown, in consideration of his Avithdrawing from the 
exercise of his ministry in this place. This was laid before Referees, 
whose names are given in the Chapter on the Town as a Parish. An 
account of that trial would be read with intense interest even at this 
late day. The Referees were all laymen, chosen for their competency 
to deal with such cases. The lawyers, one of them the elder Levi Lin- 
coln, of Worcester, soon after made Attorney General of the United 
States, and the other, the Hon. Mr. Bigelow, of Groton, of equal em- 
inence at the bar, conducted the cause with consummate ability. The 
parties were really the whole community, divided into two hostile sec- 
tions, the majority of the ehurch sympathizing with their minister, while 
the majority of th.e town were opposed to him. These thronged the 
church, filling the seats on the lower floor and the galleries, while peo- 
ple from other towns came in to crowd every vacant space. The town 



276 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 

strove on the one hand, to reduce as muchas possible, the damages 
claimed by their minister, even at the sacrifice of his reputation ; while 
he, on the other hand, maintained his right to an unsullied name, and 
to a fair compensation for the breaking up of his settlement. The coun- 
sel contended as those who are stimulated by the aroused passions of 
their clients, while the Referees deliberated as those who were conscious 
of the feeling that it would scarcely be possibleto do right without incur- 
ring the hatred of one or the other party in suit. The tradition is that 
the eminent lawyers maintained their high reputation on this occasion 
by the legal knowledge and eloquence which they displayed. The de- 
cision was in favor of Mr. Brown, and the expense to the town, inclu- 
ding damages, — nearly $1000 — and costs, must have been from $1200 
to $1500. This was a large sum for that day. Besides, the loss of 
time, if time had any value to the crowds who filled the meeting-house, 
day after day, was still greater. 

SECTION 3. — THE SLAVE CASE. 

It is a curious fact that the question whether chattel slavery ever ex- 
isted in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, was settled, in part, by a 
case in which this town was involved as a party at law. The subject 
is referred to in an article which appeared in the Historical Magazine, 
(N. Y.) in 1866, written apparently in a spirit hostile to the fair fame 
of the State. A reply to this article appeared in the Boston Daily Ad- 
vertiser. A concise statement of this case belongs to this period of our 
narrative. 

On the 22d of August, 1804, the town voted " that the Selectmen 
should see and take care of the matter concerning the negro, that the 
town of Ipswich has notified this town to take and support." No name 
is given, but it is supposed that the same person is referred to in the fol- 
lowing action, taken on the 4th of the next March, (1805.) " Chose 
Thos. Graton and Thos. Greenwood, agents to look into the matter of 
Eden London, (named in the Records of the Court, Udom,} a poor ne- 
gro man, and find out where he ought to be supported." On the 6th 
of May following, it was farther voted, " that the agents, with the assist- 
ance of the Selectmen, notify the town of Weston, or the town of Hat- 
field, or any other town, as soon as they can gain knowledge, which town 
said London was left a citizen, according to law." Later still, on the 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 277 

18th of August, 1806, the agents were directed to " carry on the suit 
against Hatfield, concerning Eden London, according to the best coun- 
sel they can get, to a final issue." At the same time a grant of $50 
was made to carry on the lawsuit. 

The contest was now between Hatfield and Winchendon. It had first 
been brought before a justice of the peace in Worcester county. It 
was appealed to the Court of Common Pleas, of Worcester county, where 
the decision was in favor of Hatfield, affirming the decision of the jus- 
tice. The case was tried, at the December term, 1806. It was next 
appealed to the" Supreme Judicial Court, March term, 1808. The rec- 
ord of the Court of Common Pleas, as certified by the presiding justice, 
was as follows : 

" Worcester, ss. Court of Common Pleas, December, 1806. 

The town of Winchendon, in the county of Worcester, complainants against 
the town of Hatfield, in the county of Hampshire, before this court by appeal 
from the adjudication of the Hon. Dwight Foster, Esq., one of the justices of 
the peace for said county, setting forth in their complaint, that Edom London, 
a negro man, now resident in said town of Winchendon, is poor and become 
chargeable to said town, and that the said town of Hatfield is the place of his 
lawful settlement, and praying that it may be so adjudged. 

The facts in the case, from the evidence before the court, are, that said Edom, 
in the year 1757, was the proper estate of one Samuel Bond, and then by him 
sold to William Williams of Weston; that some time in the year 1760, and after 
the decease of the said Williams, said Edom was set off as the estate of said 
Williams to the wife of Oliver Partridge of Hatfield, who was the daughter of 
said deceased, as part of her portion in said deceased's estate, and then went 
to live with said Partridge, in said town of Hatfield, and continued his servant 
until the 2d day of October, A. J). 1767, at which time he was sold by said 
Partridge to John Ingersoll, Esq., of Westfield, in said county of Hampshire, 
and continued with him about three years ; was then sold by said Ingersoll to 
John M'Cluster of Longmeadow, lived with him a few weeks ; was then sold 
by said John M'Cluster to Joshua Holcomb, of Simsbury in Connecticut, and 
lived with him about four years ; then was sold by said Holcomb to William 
Bond, of Lincoln, and lived with him a short time ; was then sold by said 
Bond to Thomas Cowdin, of Fitchburg, and lived with him three or four years ; 
was then sold by Said Cowdin to Jonathan Stimson, of Winchendon ; and 
the day following he absconded and enlisted in the eight months' service in 
Cambridge, and before the expiration of the said eight months' service, and 



278 SltfTORT OF WTjS"CHEnS"Z?OI?. 

in the year 1775, was sold by said Stimson to Thomas Sawyer of Winchendo 
with whom be lived some time ; then he was sold by said Sawyer to Daniel 
Groodridge r of the same Wmchendon, in the month of July, 1776, with whom 
he lived about five weeks ; then he enlisted into the three years' service, and 
the said Good-ridge received the whole of his bounty, and part of his wages." 

Such was the case' before- the Court of Common Pleas, which affirmed 
the judgment of justice Foster, and adjudged that London's- settlement 
was not in Hatfield. It may be said here, in passing, that according 
to tradition, Eden London had his freedom from Mr. Goodridge, on con- 
dition that he., London, should take the place of his master, in the three 
years' service. 

The case was brought up before the- Supreme Court r at Worcester,, 
in September, 1807, when Zfpham appeared in behalf of the plaintiffs^ 
that is, the town of Winchendon. The case was continued, and at the 
March term, 1808, Bigehiv argued the case for this town. After hear- 
ing arguments, the Court, Chief Justice Parsons, presiding, decided as; 
follows : 

" It is stated' that the pauper was once tlie slave of Oliver Partridge, living: 
several years with him at Hatfield, where his master was settled. The pau- 
per then acquired a derivative settlement in Hatfield. Afterwards his mas- 
ter Partridge sold him to $. Ingersoll, Esq., an inhabitant of, and settled in 
Westfield. There be lived several yeara with his new master, and then he lost 
his settlement in Hatfield, by gaming a new derivative settlement in Westficld- 
As it is not stated that the pauper, at any time afterward^,, again lived in Hat- 
field, either as a slave or freeman, it is unnecessary to pursue the case further. 
Having lost his settlement in Hatfield, and not having regained a new settle- 
ment there, the defendants are not liable far his maintenance, and the judg- 
ment must be affirmed with costs." 

This decision relieved Hatfield from the support of Eden London, and 
threw the costs of the suit upon Winchendon ; but must Winchendon. 
continue to support him? It was claimed by the town's counsel, Mr. 
Bigelow, among other things,, that a slave could obtain a settlement by 
length of residence, and not merely derivatively from his master. It 
was farther claimed, that by two decisions of the Supreme Judicial Court,, 
it had been decided that slavery could not exist in this Commonwealth. 
In the first action referred to, involving the right of the master, which 
'iams before the Supreme Judicial Court, after the establishment of the 



HISTORY OP WINCHENDON. 279 

Constitution, the judges declared, that, by virtue of the first article of the 
declaration of rights, slavery in this State was no more. Afterwards in 
an action by the inhabitants of Littleton, brought to maintain the expenses 
of supporting a negro, tried in Middlesex, October term, 1796, the Chief 
Justice, in directing the jury, stated as the unanimous opinion of the 
court, that a negro born in the State before the present constitution, was 
born free, although born of a female slave. If this decision should stand, 
then London was legally a free man, when he lived in Hatfield, and had 
a settlement in his own right, which he had never forfeited, since he had 
been removed without any regard to his own wishes. But Judge Par- 
sons and his Associates dismissed this matter with the curt remark : 
" It is however very certain that the general practice and common usage 
had been opposed to this opinion." The decision settled this point : that 
•" before the Revolution the settlement of a slave always followed that 
of his master." Eden's residence was here therefore, beeause his last 
three masters lived in this town. Again the decision affirmed that slaves 
when " manumitted, could acquire a settlement in their own right, and 
if they had resided a year in the town where they were manumitted, 
they could not then be warned out." 

Whichever ©f these decisions of the Comrt was right ; the more hu- 
mane one of the Court in 1796, or the possibly more legal one of the 
Court in 1808 ; the town was obliged to support Eden London in his 
old age, and as he did service in the war of independence? it is to be 
hoped that the maintenance was cheerfully rendered. It has come down 
to us that he was a " pretty smart man." He was probably an old man 
by this time, as it is fifty-one years from the time he began to figure, 
or rather to be figured, in these sales, to the final decision. . 

He was buried in the old graveyard in the Centre, in the northeast 
•corner. 

SECTIGN 4. — LATER CASES. 

In 1821, August 27, the town ehose Ephraim Murdock, Esq., to car- 
ry on the lawsuit against the town of Luxemburg. He became con- 
vinced that the right of the case was with Lunenburg, and therefore 
kept the case out«of Court. He settled on the best terms possible with 
the agent of that town on condition that all the papers, in the case — 
evidence, &c. — -should be delivered to him. This was done, but not 



280 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON, 

long after, as he told the story, he received notice from the " whelp" 
that he had collected the evidence anew, thus securing his town's claim 
for the future, in case the memory of men should fail. 

The facts of the case, in brief, were these. A woman, who shall be 
nameless, living when the town was organized, not far from the east 
school-house, bore illegitimate children. Some were white, and some 
were not so white. She removed to Lunenburg, but her legal domicile 
was in Winchendon. Some of her white, and some of her colored chil- 
dren, about fifty years afterwards, became chargeable to the town. The 
authorities of Lunenburg traced them to Winchendon, since the place 
of their birth is privileged. with the support of such indigent offspring, 
and this town made an allowance to Lunenburg to pay the expense of 
keeping them. 

Perhaps ignorance of the law in such cases made and provided, led 
the town to contest the case. When Esq. Murdock found what the law 
required, he made the best terms practicable with the rather sharp agent 
on the other side. 

For the credit of the family it should be stated, that one of the col- 
ored grandsons of the woman aforesaid, was among the first volunteers 
from this town, in the late war of freedom. 

The Reed case was the next of sufficient importance to be noticed. 
A teamster by the name of Henry Reed, used to drive a long team 
of horses through the town, from Brattleborough to Boston. In 1843 
he brought a complaint against the town for a defective bridge near the 
Robbins mill, on the old Fitzwilliam turnpike. The matter was sub- 
mitted to reference, and was heard in the winter of 1844, in the old 
hall of Mc Milton S. Morse's tavern. Reed's counsel was Hon. Na- 
thaniel Wood, of Fitchburg ; Hon. Emory Washburn, since judge, gov- 
ernor and professor in the Harvard Law School, appeared for the town. 
His argument is still remembered by the writer, as characterized by 
candor and force, without any resort to finesse and cunning. 

The case was this. The bridge needed repairs, and the workmen 
were about to begin,, when a teamster came along who desired to pass. 
The bridge was strengthened by throwing on loose planks, when the team 
went over in safety. Reed came from below toward night, and stopped 
at the tavern till morning. Hearing of the bridge and wishing to avoid 
the other road, which was then in a bad state, he applied to Mark Whit- 
comb, Esq., Selectman, and requested permission to pass over the bridge, 




MWiEmmim mwiEmco 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 281 

In pure kindness of heart, the Esq. rode up early in the morning, and 
told the workmen to let the plank remain until Reed had passed. The 
latter came along, and in crossing the bridge, either by accident or de- 
sign, ran his off wheels outside of the end of the top planks. The wheels 
cut through the lower planks, and the load was turned over into the 
stream. He claimed that the order from the Selectman made the town 
responsible for the whole width of the bridge, and his laAvyer succeeded 
in leading the Referee to that conclusion. The whole expense was about 
eight hundred dollars. 

The Sanders case, so called, came up in 1849, and on the 12th 
of November, Harvey Wyman was chosen agent of the town. He em- 
ployed the Hon. Benjamin F. Thomas as counsel ; Hon. N. Wood ap- 
peared for the plaintiff, which was the town of Fitchburg. The case 
was singular, in some of its aspects, and will therefore be given at some 
length, and principally in the words of Cushing's Report. Lemuel San- 
ders and family became paupers while living in Fitchburg. The ques- 
tion was this : Did they have a legal settlement in Winchendon ? 

It was claimed by the plaintiffs that the paupers had gained a resi- 
dence in Winchendon in the twelfth mode pointed out in the Revised 
Statutes ch. 45, § 1, by a residence of ten years, and the assessment 
and payment of taxes five years during that period in the town of Win- 
chendon ; and it was admitted that Sanders was assessed and paid a 
poll tax in Winchendon, as of the 1st of May, 1832, and in each suc- 
ceeding year until 1840. 

Sanders was called as a witness by the plaintiff, to prove his ten years' 
residence in this town. Everything turned on his intention. About 
the last of June, 1831, he came to Winchendon, and went to work for 
John D. Dunbar. He lived here until October 26, 1842, when he re- 
moved to Fitchburg. His family were not brought hither until the 6th 
of November, 1832. They lived in Oakham up to that time, and he 
occasionally visited them at his home. As there were not ten years 
between November 6, 1832, and October 26, 1842, how could he ac- 
quire a residence in Winchendon? By intention. He finally, after re- 
peated questionings, ventured to testify that he had formed the inten- 
tion, in the course of the summer, 1832, to make Winchendon his home. 
In the words of the " Reports :" 

" It was his intention— in June, 1831 — to remove to Winchendon, though 



282 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 

he did not know that anything was said to Dunbar about his removal, and 
nothing was said about the remaining or removal of his family ; that he had 
some conversation with Dunbar — in March or April, 1832 — about removing 
to Winchendon, and told him that they wanted him (the witness) back to the 
Barre factory ; that he told Dunbar if he was going to work there (in Win- 
chendon) any longer, he wanted to be getting his family up ; that Dunbar 
thought he had better stay, and that if he had a mind to stay, and would stay 
and do as well as he had done, he should have the first chance there was for 
a tenement, of which there were then none to be had, but they were going to 
build some ; that he thereupon determined to stay in Winchendon, and did 
stay ; that at the time of this conversation, he had been and was boarding and 
continued to board at the factory boarding-house in Winchendon, where he 
had his washing and most of his mending done, some of the bad mending be- 
ing done at Oakham, where his family continued to reside ; that his wife and 
children came to Winchendon to reside on the 6th of November, 1832; that 
the reason why they did not come to Winchendon sooner was because there 
was no tenement there ready for the witness to remove into j that after his con- 
versation with Dunbar, he never expected to go back and live in Oakham, but 
that if Dunbar did not keep him, he should go somewhere else, though he had 
no thoughts of leaving ; that he was assessed in Winchendon, and paid a tax 
there in 1832, that during this time he did not think anything about where 
his home was, though, in answer to any proper cjuestion, he should probably 
have spoken of Oakham as his home ; that he was then at work in Winchen- 
don, liable to be turned away at any time, and having no lease of a house at 
Oakham, he was liable to be turned out by his landlord at any time ; that the 
Assessors of Winchendon did not, to his knowledge, come to see him, except 
once in 1840 or 1841 ; that during the whole time while he worked in Win- 
chendon, before his family came there, he worked by the day, and did not 
make or ask Dunbar to make any contract, &c." 

The judge, Hopkinson, was of opinion that the evidence was not suf- 
ficient to authorize the jury to find a verdict for the plaintiffs, a verdict 
was therefore rendered in favor of Winchendon and the plaintiffs alleged 
exceptions. The case came before the Supreme Court, October term, 
1849, when judge Fletcher gave the decision. Having stated the case, 
the judge proceeded as follows : 

' ; After the evidence for the plaintiffs was put in, the judge ruled that it 
would not warrant the jury in finding a verdict for the plaintiffs. Whereupon 
a verdict was given for the defendants. To this ruling the plaintiffs except. 
If therefore there was evidence which would have warranted the jury in find- 



HrSTOKY OF WINCHENDOIT. 283 

Ing a verdict for the plaintiffs, the ruling of the court below was erroneous, and 
a new trial must be granted. There was evidence to show that Sanders was 
at work in Winohendon, from June, 1831, to October, 1842, and that he had 
left his former home not intending to return to it again. There was also ev- 
idence tending to show that he went to Winchendon, with the intention of fix- 
ing his residence and having bis settlement there, and to remove bis family 
there as soon as practicable. The intention, which formed a most essential 
clement in the case, was a matter to bo inquired of and settled exclusively by 
the jury. What was the intention of the pauper was a most material fact, and 
not a question of law, and coula only be settled by the jury, and not by the 
court. The case, therefore, being one which was peculiarly and eminently for 
the jury, the ruling of the judge was erroneous, and the verdict must be set 
aside and a new trial granted." 

Accordingly a new trial was had, and by that time Sanders, by some 
means, had become satisfied that he could testify that he had formed 
a definite intention, sometime in the summer or early autumn of 1832, 
to make Winchendon his home. This settled the matter, and the jury 
gave the verdict for the plaintiffs. It was however, and still is the opin- 
ion of the agent of the town, that if the case had been given to the first 
jury, the verdict would have been in favor of Winchendon. At that 
time the pauper did not seem to know much about his intention. At 
the latter trial, he testified to a real intention to remove hither, and that 
testimony governed the jury. The expense was not far from $350.00. 
This case certainly illustrates the truth of the motto at the head of the 
chapter — " the glorious- uncertainty of the law." 



284 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 



CHAPTER XIX.— TEMPERANCE AND 
MORALS. 

" What war so cruel, or what siege so sorcj 

As that which strong temptation doth apply 
Against the fort of reason evermore, 
To bring the soul into captivity ?" 

Fairy Queen. 
" Nature, good cateress, 
Means her provision only to the good, 
That live according to her sober laws, 
And holy dictates of pure Temperance." 

CoMus. 

SECTION 1. — CONVIVIAL HABITS. 

Winchendon has always enjoyed a fair reputation, in comparison with 
other towns, in regard to Temperance and Good Morals. At times, 
intemperance has been quite too prevalent ; and other forms of vicious 
appetite have ruined their votaries and victims. But as a general thing, 
the tone of moral sentiment has been high, and the people, in suc- 
cessive generations, have been industrious, frugal, law-abiding and vir- 
tuous. Their character, in this respect, should find a place in their 
History. Accordingly, in this short chapter, the design will be to set 
forth what the town, in its corporate capacity, as well as what societies 
and individuals have done to promote temperance and good morals. 

Nothing of special significance bearing on this subject, is found in 
our early annals. The fact, however, that the town was a parish, and 
by annual grants, sustained the preaching of the gospel, and public* 
worship, as "well as the catechising of the children in the great truths 
of the Christian religion, must be taken as evidence that the people 
were sensible of the necessity of a high state of morals. For true re- 
ligion is the root of temperance, purity and all other virtues and graces 
of character. The minister was almost always styled, in town-language, 
the " teacher of piety, religion and morality ;" and his influence was 
uniformly in favor of the highest style of good morals. The greater 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 285 

includes the less, and the preaching which inculcates supreme love to 
God, and unselfish love to man, promotes the highest and purest virtue. 

It must be admitted however, that the people, for nearly eighty years 
after the first permanent settlement, were addicted to the free use of 
intoxicating drinks, and that not a few of them suffered in health, prop- 
erty and character, in consequence. The elderly people remember 
many Avho were injured by their drinking habits ; and too many who 
became such slaves to appetite as to shorten their days and tarnish their 
memories. The Records of the Church show that some within its sacred 
fold, from which everything unclean should be excluded, were guilty of 
intemperance, and others of violating the seventh commandment. As 
the standard cf character is always higher in the Church than in the pub- 
lic generally, the state of morals may be inferred from the above fact. In 
regard to intemperance, how could it be avoided when liquors were 
provided for all occasions? They were drank at home, at work, while 
hunting and fishing, at trainings, at bees, at huskings, at weddings and 
at funerals. The glass and the pipe came in at all ministerial gather- 
ings. A meeting-house could not be raised or dedicated ; a minister 
could not be settled, without the inevitable rum, brandy and sugar,'for 
the Council, the Choir and the Committee, not to mention visitors from 
abroad, and the public generally. A barrel, and sometimes more, would 
be consumed on a single occasion of this kind. 

But if must not be forgotten that cases of habitual intemperance were 
the exceptions, in former times, in the community as a whole, while in 
the church they were very rare. Moreover, strenuous means were used 
to reclaim the erring ; sometimes by discipline, and sometimes by pri- 
vate exertions. These were often, though not always successful. A 
story is told of one of the early settlers, whose name need not be given, 
which exhibits the good intentions of the minister, though he was foiled 
on the occasion to which it refers. A citizen of good standing, though 
addicted to the excessive use of spirituous liquors, was visited by the 
minister, Rev. Mr. Brown, at the suggestion of several neighbors, who 
hoped that their erring neighbor might be reclaimed. The man him- 
self, anticipating such a call, was prepared. Mr. Brown was seen near- 

ing the house, one bitter cold day in winter, whereupon Mr. met 

him at the door,* saying : " How do you do ? walk in by the fire ; you 
must be very cold ; you must take something warm to drink ;" and 



286 HISIOK.Y OF WINCKENBOX. 

suiting the action to the word, he brought on his toddy, flip, or what- 
ever drink he had compounded for the occasion. The minister took a 
draught, according to the usual custom, and was about to begin upon 
his errand. But the host took the lead in conversation, and passing from 
one subject to another — health, weather, politics, domestic and relig- 
ious matters — left no chance for the friendly warning. Mr. Brown 
finally concluded he must go home, hoping to drop a parting word on 
the subject which had impelled him to come out on such an inclement 
day. But here he was foiled again, the host saying : " Really, Mr. 
Brown, you mus'nt go out into the cold without taking something to 
keep you warm ;" and actually induced him to take another drink on 
retiring. When questioned by his anxious neighbors about the success 
of his mission, he wa3 obliged to confess that the man's politeness and 
volubility had prevented all allusion to the subject of hard-drinking. 

SECTION 2. — TIPPLING AND TAVERN-HAUNTING. 

After- the Revolution, and down to the close of the first quarter of this 
century, there was a period of some fifty years, that has no parallel in 
our history, either before or after, for intemperance. It was the saturn- 
alia of rum. Ministers preached and moralists declaimed against the evil 
and the sin ; friends remonstrated, while wives and children grieved ; 
but still the tide of ruin rolled on, bearing away thousands of debased 
but willing victims. The laws were also enforced, to a certain extent, 
and probably some effect was produced by way of preventing the 
increase of intemperance, though not in securing its suppression. Among 
the measures adopted in this place, we find the following in the Records, 
under date of 1809, December 28. There was an article in the war- 
rant calling a town meeting, " to see if the town will take some meth- 
od to prevent a number of the inhabitants of said town, from spending 
their time and property at public houses, by appointing guardians, or 
•some other way, as they shall think proper." After considering the 
matter, it was voted : 

"1. That it be recommended to the inhabitants of this town, as far as pos- 
sible, to discountenance every species of prodigality and unnecessary expendi- 
ture of time and money, inconsistent with the necessities or conveniences thereof. 

2. That this town view with regret, the habits which many of its inhab- 
itants have imbibed, of spending much of their time and money in frequenting 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 287 

public houses unnecessarily, which tends to destroy the manners, corrupts the 
morals, and too frequently tends to a life of dissipation, 'which ends in the ruin 
of the persons concerned in such practices. 

It is therefore voted, that this town pointedly disapproves of this practice 
as destructive to the community, and detrimental to the peace and good order 
of society, and so contrary to the good laws of this Commonwealth. 

Voted, that it he recommended to the innholders and retailers of spirit- 
uous liquors, to discountenance, as far as possible, the above practice, as it is 
pointedly in the face of the law therein made and provided. 

Voted, that the Selectmen be and they are hereby directed to forward to 
each tavern keeper, innholder and retailer in this town, a copy of the above 
resolutions, signed by them, and attested by the town Clerk. And also take 
such other measures to prevent the continuation of said practices as arc con- 
sistent with the laws of this Commonwealth." 

Nothing farther relating to this subject is found till the year 1817, 
when, as mentioned in the chapter on the support of the poor, a reso- 
lution was passed by the town, in reference to the use of intoxicating 
drinks as a principal cause of poverty and crime. That action need not 
be quoted again, only to remind the reader that " the licensed houses 
and retailers" were constantly violating the law, and that the town felt 
the need of having them prosecuted by the Selectmen, and if that failed 
to procure obedience, of withholding their license. 

SECTION 8. — OBSERVANCE OP THE SABBATH. 

About the same time, — 1814 — the town in common with the State, 
was alarmed at the growing laxity in respect of the keeping of the Sab- 
bath as holy unto the Lord. On the 7th of November it was 

" Voted, that the town most cordially approve the law of this Commonwealth 
enacted to enforce a due observance of the Lord's day, and also of the last re- 
port of the legislature on the subject. 

Voted, that we, the inhabitants of the town hereby pledge ourselves that 
we will give all the aid in our power, and make every just and pioper effort 
to secure the execution of the laws providing for the due observance of the 
Lord's day." 

At the same meeting the Tything-men were recommended to enter 
forthwith on the peculiar duties of their office ; and approbation was ex- 
pressed in regard to the " late proceedings at Phillipston," where a meet- 
ing had been held in favor of the proper observance of the Sabbath. 



288 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 

The connection of this extract from the Records with the preceding, 
is evident, inasmuch as Sabbath desecration is always attended with in- 
temperance and vice, and the sacred keeping of that day is as uniform- 
ly accompanied by all the virtues which adorn the home, bless the coun- 
try, and beautify the church of God. 

It is well known that great efforts have b* n made during the last 
forty years, to suppress intemperance by the force of law, as well as by 
moral influence. This town has uniformly been in favor of all judicious 
legislation on this subject. A vote passed at the annual meeting, March 
6, 1843, may be taken as the habitual sense of the town, in relation to 
laws regulating the sale of spirituous liquors. 

" On motion, voted, that in our opinion, public good does not require that 
any person or persons be licensed to sell intoxicating drinks in this town the 
ensuing year, and that we hereby request our Selectmen to withhold their ap- 
probation from all persons who may apply for it in order to enable them to 
procure a license, except for mechanical and medicinal purposes." 

No person has been authorizecVto sell intoxicating liquors in this town, 
for many years, except the town agent, and it has not been openly sold 
outside of his store to any great extent. Persons have supplied them- 
selves with the article in various ways, but generally by an underhand- 
ed process. By all which it appears that the record of the town, in re- 
lation to temperance and good morals, is highly honorable. 

SECTION 4. — PRIVATE EFFORTS TO PROMOTE TEMPERANCE. 

Not far from forty years ago, some of the leading men of the town 
were impelled by their sense of duty, to exert their influence as private 
citizens, against the alarming evils of rum-drinking. Among others, 
the late Ephraim Murdoch, Esq., told his farm hands, as haying time 
drew nigh, that he should not furnish them with liquor during haying 
and harvesting. He was willing to add to their wages the cost of the 
usual allowance of liquors, but he would not furnish the liquor for them, 
nor employ those who habitually made use of it. They demurred at 
first, and urged that they could not endure the labor and the heat of 
summer, without the customary stimulus. He remained firm however, 
, and they yielded the point. The result was that his work was done 
better than ever before, and the men confessed that they never did their 
work with so little fatigue and trouble. The experiment was a success. 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 289 

Capt. Phinehas Whitney and others had a similar experience. In this 
quiet way a temperance reform was begun which led to very happy re- 
sults. • The practice of not furnishing stimulating liquors to workmen, 
whether on the farm or in shops and factories, became universal, in a 
few years, and continues to the present time. 

Effort in another method was tried at a subsequent period, which was 
followed with good results. About twenty years ago, two or three gen- 
tlemen who were members of the School Committee together, undertook 
to hold a series of meetings for the benefit of the scholars. Mr. Elisha 
Murdock and the writer visited every district in the town, and addressed 
nearly all the children then connected with the schools. Their method 
was, to visit a school, and after examining into its condition and prog- 
ress, to invite all the members, with their teacher, to be present in the 
afternoon of the next Saturday, at a specified hour. They were told 
the object of the meeting, and that they would be asked to sign the Tem- 
perance pledge if their parents were willing. These invitations were 
always well responded to, and the attendance was large. After speak- 
ing to the children upon the evils of self-indulgence, and the importance 
of being fixed in their childhood in favor of temperance, and after ex- 
plaining the meaning of the pledge, they were invited to sign their names. 
They, with few exceptions, took the pledge, and there is reason to be- 
lieve that the enviable reputation for temperance, good morals and in- 
dustry which this town enjoys, is due in some measure to these quiet 
and unpretending efforts. It should be added that the Rev. Andrew 
Dunn and Mr. Sullivan B. Ball, were present and assisted on several 
occasions. 

SECTION 5. — TEMPERANCE SOCIETIES. 

The first associated action on the subject of temperance, in the tech- 
nical sense of the word, in this section of the Commonwealth, was taken 
in the study of Rev. Eber L. Clark. He was then the pastor of the 
First Congregational Church, and the subject came up before the Wor- 
cester North Association of ministers, with which he was connected. 
According to a published statement of the late Daniel Henshaw, Esq., 
who resided in this town, at the time, they took ground against the use 
of intoxicating liquors as a beverage, and agreed to exert their influ- 
ence in inducing others to follow their example. This was before the 
Temperance Reformation had gained public recognition, and when they 

19 



290 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 

were obliged to t encounter, not only the cravings of a perverted appe- 
tite, and the pecuniary interest of dealers, but also the prestige of un- 
broken and universal usage. The temperance movement was thus in- 
itiated in all the towns in this vicinity ; for the pastors strengthened by 
each other's co-operation, went home, and began to preach and lecture 
against intemperance, until their congregations were enlisted in the 
cause. It was a severe struggle, but the ministers were faithful to their 
convictions of duty, and they soon found many of the best members of 
the churches on their side. Sensible men — farmers and others — soon 
joined them. The ladies gave their influence, in large measure, and 
the reformation went forward. When the first Temperance Society 
was formed here is not definitely known, but it was certainly in the 
early days of this great moral enterprise. 

The first pledge, as all know who can remember those days, was to 
abstain from the use of distilled liquors, — rum, brandy, gin, whiskey, 
etc., — but wine, cider, ale and beer were not proscribed. Some good 
resulted from this effort, but it was soon found that men could make 
themselves drunk on fermented drinks. Besides, some had no diffi- 
culty in strengthening the permitted beverages with liquids of more 
stimulating quality. And again, it was soon learned that the wine, ale 
and hard-cider drinker could have no influence over those addicted to 
the use of more powerful liquors. It was either necessary to abandon 
the use of " all that could intoxicate," or give up the incipient reform- 
ation. This was the second stage of the great movement. A Society 
was formed here on this basis, including not only the clergymen in town, 
but many of the most influential citizens. The physicians, among whom 
Dr. Alvah Godding was conspicuous, lent their powerful aid. The 
deacons of the churches, so far as now remembered, were all enlisted. 
Respectable people still clung to their wine ; some even to their rum 
and brandy ; but they ceased to provide liquors at funerals, weddings 
and parties. The bottles were banished from the side-board. The old 
custom of asking visitors to take a drink, became obsolete. The eleven 
o'clock dram was dispensed with, and " drinking" was confined, very 
much to the bar-room and to festive gatherings of men, not of the stricter 
sort, and when ladies were not present. 

It is not necessary to give a history of all, or even of any of the va- 
rious temperance organizations, which from time to time have existed 
in the town. It is enough to say that besides the society already re- 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 291 

ferred to, there was a ■" Band of Hope," composed of the children, 
flourishing here in 1842-4 ; the Washingtonian movement reached 
here, and was the means of reclaiming quite a number ; a society on 
the basis of total abstinence from all that can intoxicate, except for 
" medicinal, mechanical and sacramental uses," was in active operation 
from about 1845 to 1856 ; a-nd by all these agencies, great good was 
effected. Besides many sermons and addresses by the clergymen of 
the town, lectures from some of the most eminent of the leading men 
engaged in the reform, were heard. Rev. Dr. Porter, then Presiding 
Elder of the district, Rev. John Pierpont, Dr. Jewett, Mr. Hawkins 
and others, drew large audiences, and exerted a powerful influence. 

During this period, a combination was formed, outside of the tem- 
perance organization, to prosecute all violators of the prohibitory law 
within the limits of the town. It included many members of the tem- 
perance society, and quite a number of men who were not in that or- 
ganization, — all voters — who were convinced that the violation of the 
law led to unhappy and ruinous results. The combination, united by 
a written pledge, was so strong, that while it existed, no one had the 
hardihood to violate the law by the open sale of intoxicating liquors. 

Of later date was the organization of the Sons of Temperance, which, 
though it did not include those fi-iends of temperance who were opposed 
to all secret societies, exerted a strong and healthful influence in favor 
of the great reform. In time, this society was sueeeeded by the Good 
Templars, in two branches or divisions, — best known to the initiated — 
one of them made up of children, under the lead of their seniors ; and 
the other of adults. They are based on the pledge of "total abstinence," 
and the enforcement of the prohibitory law ; besides which they are in- 
tended to exert a social and kindly influence by means of frequent meet- 
ings, music and literary exercises, in favor of the temperance cause. 

In all these modes, and by the circulation of temperance periodicals, 
the cause of self-denial and sound morals has been promoted among us. 
The church, including the ministry, is the real source and abiding cause 
of all efficient moral action, but these various organizations are its in- 
struments in effecting its great objects. Wherever the church is in- 
spired by the Spirit of God, the tone of morals will be high, and its 
power will be felt, by various agencies, through the whole community. 



292 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON\ 



CHAPTER XX. —THE MILITIA 



When John Adams was in Paris, in the capacity of a minister at the 
Court of Versailles, he was asked by a Frenchman to tell him what were 
the causes that made the inhabitants of New England such a peculiar 
people ; so moral, intelligent, religious and free. He replied that there 
were four causes which united in producing the results which the inqui- 
rer so much admired. 1, The Church ; 2, the Town Organization with 
its meetings for business, &c. ; 3, the Common School System ; and 
4, the Militia. This was his reply, substantially, though not in the ex- 
act words. These four causes have been at work in this place, and 
have concurred in making the people homogeneous with all the rest of 
New England. The church was almost coeval with the first settlement, 
and preceded the organization of the town ; the town was formed as soon 
as there were people enough to render it advisable ; the school has been 
in operation ever since there were children enough to require a teach- 
er, and the militia, till comparatively recent times, has taught every 
able-bodied man how to defend his country. 

5t is difficult to find any definite information respecting the first mil- 
itary organization in Winchencfon. Being entirely under the control 
of the State, there is no reference to it in the Records of the Propri- 
etors or of the town, except an occasional vote of the latter to remit the 
poll-tax of the soldiers, buy their uniforms, supply them with cartridges, 
or grant some similar favor, in consideration of their loss of time in the 
annual, semi-annual, or more frequent musters. At the time of the in- 
corporation of the town, there was not a large number of men to be form- 
ed into a military company. Probably there were not more than twen- 
ty men in the beginning of 1764, who were liable to do military duty. 
These however were all accustomed to the use of fire-arms, and could 
defend themselves and their families from the incursions of wild beasts 
and the attacks of Indians. 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 293 

During the next ten years a company was formed, probably, because 
there was a military organization here at the time of the " Lexington 
alarm" in 1775. When the news first came, a few men hurried off, 
under the lead, says tradition, of Moses Hale ; but before going far, 
they learned the result of that movement of the British troops and re- 
turned home. In a few days the company, composed of Winchendon, 
Royalston and Templeton men, under the command of Capt. Abel Wil- 
der, were on their way to Boston. This is known from letters written 
by Capt. Wilder to his Avife, before the close of May. A part of this 
company was in the battle of Bunker Hill on the 17th of June. From 
this time, the regular militia system was superseded by other modes 
of raising volunteers, and procuring men for the regular army. Some 
of the men who were officers during the war, were Messrs. Wilder, Mer- 
riam, Oaks, Poor, Boynton, and others. 

Their names, though not always their rank, appear in the chapter on 
the Revolution. 

The militia force was in an organized condition after the establishment 
of peace, and the acknowledgment of our independence by Great Brit- 
ain. This was in 1783. In 1786-7, the Governor of Massachusetts 
sent a requisition for troops to put down the Shays' rebellion. When 
the requisition reached here, the company was wanted, and met on the 
Common, when there was a call for volunteers. The names of the com- 
missioned officers have not been learned by the author with certainty, 
but as Paul Boynton, and Daniel Hubbard were commissioned captains 
in 1788, it is probable they were either first lieutenants or ensigns, in 
the two or three preceding years. Starting from this point, the names 
of the officers and their rank, with the date of their commission, will be 
given in the following table. The Winchendon companies belonged to 
the Fifth Regiment, Second Brigade, Seventh Division, until 1820, af- 
ter which they belonged to the Sixth Division ; the number of the Regi- 
ment and Brigade remaining unchanged. 

TEAR. NAME. BANK. 

1788. Paul Boynton, Captain. 

1788. Daniel Hubbard, Captain. 
Jacob B, Woodbury, Lieutenant 

1789. Acfonijak Bixby, Ensign. 
1793. Paul Boynton, Major. 
1793. David Bice, Captain. 



294 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 



YEAR. NAME. RANK. 

1793. Levi Moor, Captain. 

" Adonijah Bixby, Lieutenant. 

1793. Isaac Noyes, Ensign. 

1794. Thomas Graton, Ensign. 
1794. Isaac Noyes, Lieutenant. 

1794. Samuel P. Goodrich, Ensign. 

1795. Levi Hey wood, " 

" Thomas Graton, Lieutenant. 

1797. Benjamin Wilder, 

" Cyrus Brown, Ensign. 

1799. Paul Boynton, Lt. Colonel. 
" Levi Moor, Major. 

" Nathaniel Holmab, Qr. Master. 

" Levi Hey wood, Lieutenant. 

" Benjamin Adams, " 

" Daniel Boynton, Ensign. 

About this time some of the soldiers of Win- 
chendon belonged to the Cavalry, First Reg- 
iment Horse, Second Division. 
1791. Joseph Brown, 2d Lieutenant. 

Battalion of Cavalry, in Second Brigade, 
Seventh Division. 

1790. Paul Raymond, Lieutenant. 

1791. Joseph Brown, 2d Lieutenant. 
1802. Phinehas Whitney, Lieutenant 
1806. " Captain. 

It was at this last date that the affair of the 
Chesapeake occurred, when the soldiers of the 
country were called upon to be in readiness for 
public service. The Cavalry Co., made up of 
soldiers from this and neighboring towns, pa- 
raded at New Boston, and under the appeal of 
Capt. Whitney to volunteer with him, they all 
pledged themselves to march when summoned. 
They were not needed, but this spirit was none 
the less conspicuous. We return to the In- 
fantry. 

1800. Jacob B. Woodbury, Lt. Col. Com'g, 

1800. Abel Jones, Ensign. 

1801. Benjamin Hubbard, Lieutenant. 
Abiel Alger, Ensign. 

1802. Abel Jones, Lieutenant. 

1802. Abiel Alger, Lieutenant. 
" Lemuel Hey wood, Ensign. 

" Samuel Leach, 

1803. Nathaniel Holman, Adjutant. 
William Bickford, Qr. Master. 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 



295 



YEAR. 



1804. 



Benjamin Adams, 
" Lemuel Hey wood, 
" Timothy Hancock, 
" David Beaman, 
1805.* Lemuel Hey wood,* 
" David Beaman, 
" Luke Prentice, 
" Timothy Hancock, f 
" Israel Whitcomb, 



BANK. 

Major. 

Lieutenant. 

Ensign. 
it 

Captain. 

Lieutenant. 

Ensign. 

Captain. 

Lieutenant. 

Ensign. 

Ensign. 

Captain. 

Lieutenant. 

Ensign. 

Lt. Colonel. 

Lt. Col. Com'* 

Captain. 

Ensign. 

Captain. 

Lieutenant. 

Ensign. 

Captain. 

Lieutenant. 

Ensign. 

Captain. 

Lieutenant. 

Ensign. 

Captain. 
(< 

Lieutenant. 

EC 

Ensign. 
tt 

Captain. 

Lieutenant. 

Ensign. 

Captain. 

Lieutenant. 

Ensign. 

Adjutant. 

Lieutenant. 



* About this date, two Companies were formed, one belonging to the south- 
ern, and the other to the northern half of the town. They sometimes met on 
the Common and engaged in excitiug Sham-tights. North Company. 



(I 


Joshua Stoddard, 


180G. 


Lemuel Heywood,* 


k 


David Beaman, 


i« 


Luke Prentice, 


1807. 


Benjamin Adams, 


it 


David Beaman,* 


" 


Charles Chase, 


1808. 


Luke Prentice,* 


" 


Charles Chase, 


•c 


Joseph Robbins, 


1809. 


Israel Whitcomb, f 


" 


Joshua Stoddard, 


(i 


Samuel Noyes, 


1810. 


Joshua Stoddard, f 


" 


Samuel Noyes, 


< t 


Alpheus Gay, 


1811. 


Charles Chase,* 


a 


Abijah Peirce,f 


a 


Joseph Robbins,* 


i i 


John Raymond, t 


t i 


James Stimson,* 


1812. 


Eliel Sherwin.t 


1813, 


Joseph Robbins,* 


it 


James Stimson, 


tt 


John Forristall, 


1814. 


John Forristall,* 


" 


Luke Heywood, 


tt 


Hananiah Whitney, 


1816, 


Horatio Gates Newcomb. 


<< 


Hananiah Whitney, Jr., 



f South Company. 



296 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON". 



YEAR. 



NAME. 



RANK. 



1816. 


Simeon Stearns, 


Ensign. 


1817. 


John Raymond,f 


Captain. 


6 i 

a 
it 


Luke Wilder, 
Mark Wbitcomb, 


Lieutenant. 
Ensign. 


1817. 


William H. Cutler, 


Surgeon's Mate. 


1818. 


tt 


Surgeon. 


1 t 


Luke Wilder^ 


Captain, 


a 


Mark Wbitcomb, 


Lieutenant- 


tt 


Levi Greenwood, 


Ensign. 


tt 


Hananiab Whitney, Jr.,* 


Captain. 


" 


Simeon Stearns, 


Lieutenant?. 


u 


Luke Parks, 


Ensign. 




The Regiment and Brigade were now 


put 




into the Sixth Division. 




1820. 


Horatio G. Newcomb, 


Major.. 


" 


Simeon Stearns,* 


Captain. 


•« 


Luke Parks, 


Lieutenant. 


Li 

a 


James Fry,* 
Thomas Bennet, Jr.,. 


Ensign. 


1821. 


Luke Parks,* 


Captain. 


t i 


Thomas Bennet, 


Lieutenant- 


tt 


James Fry, 


Lieutenant. 


" 


Ephraim Murdoek, Jr.,. 


Ensign. 


1822. 


Eber L. Clark, 


Chaplain. 


1822. 


Mark Wbitcomb, t 


Captain. 


" 


Ephraim Murdoch, Jr.,, 


Lieutenant- 


it 


Stillman Hale,. 


Ensign. 


" 


Levi Greenwood,f 


Lieutenant. 


1 1 


Willard Clark, 


Ensign. 


1823. 


James M. Fuller, 


Surgeon's Mate-. 


1824. 


Ephraim Murdoch, Jr.,* 


Captain. 


t 1 


Stillman Hale, 


Lieutenant. 


" 


John H. Wheelock, 


Ensign. 


(< 


Levi Greenwood, t 


Captain. 


( t 


Oliver Adams, 


Lieutenant.. 


a 


B. H. Hancock, 


Ensign. 


tt 


James M. Fuller, 


Surgeon. 


tt 


Solomon Crocker, 


Paymaster- 


1825. 


Stillman Hale, 


Captain. 


tt 


Gilman P/ay, 


Ensign. 




One Company was disbanded in 1826, 


af- 




ter which time, most of the officers seem 


i to 




have been located in the northern section of 




the town. 





* North, f South, 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 



297 



NAME. 



1826. 


Stillman Hale, 


" 


Benjamin H. Hancock, 


" 


John H. Wheelock, 


" 


John Cutter, 


i t 


William Murdock, 


1827. 


Oliver Adams, 


1828. 


William Murdock, 

i i 


it 


John Cutter, (Light Infantry) 


a 


Edward Murdock, 


" 


Levi Stearns, 


t c 


Hiram Adams, 


< i 


Orvil Gilmore, 


1829. 


William Murdock, 


" 


Charles W. Bigelow, 


1830. 


(t 


i t 


Charles Dickerson, 


1830. 


Harvey Wyman, 


tt 


William Murdock, 



1832. 



1833. 

1834. 



1845. 



1845. 

1847. 



1852. 



(Light Infantry) 



KANK. 

Captain. 
Lieutenant. 

i £ 

Ensign. 

Captain. 

Lieutenant. 

Captain. 



Lieutenant. 
Ensign. 

Captain. 

Lieutenant. 

Captain. 

Lieutenant. 

Ensign. 

Ensign. 

Major. 

Colonel. 

Captain. 

Lieutenant. 



Ensign. 

Lieutenant. 

Captain. 

Lieutenant. 



Levi Stearns, 
William Brooks, 
H. Wyman, 
James Murdock, Jr. 
Daniel Rolf, 3d, 
Marvin T. Nash, 
William Brooks, 
James Murdock, 

At this date all signs of the Militia for about 
ten or twelve years disappear. In 1845 a Com- 
pany was formed, which was connected with 
the Ninth Regiment of Light Infantry. 
Oliver P. Prescott, Captain. 

Sidney Fairbanks, 1st Lieutenant. 

Samuel Page, . 2d Lieutenant. 

David Carter, 3d Lieutenant. 

M. B. Felton, 4th Lieutenant. 

Sidney Fairbanks, Captain. 

Joseph Cobb, Lt. Colonel. 

Sidney Fairbanks, Major. 



In 1852 the Company was disbanded, since which there has been no 
Company of Volunteers in the town. 



* North, f South. 



298 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 

Our fathers through all the period of colonial and provincial history, 
maintained a military organization, and were fired by the military spirit. 
None but careful students of the ante-revolutionary times of the Com- 
monwealth, have any adequate idea of the frequency and severity of 
the wars with the Indians and the French, which the stru^ling colo- 
nists were compelled to wage, in order to preserve their very existence. 
Though " trusting in God," they were under the necessity of" keeping 
their powder dry." The war of the revolution deepened their convic- 
tion that a well-organized militia was essential to the welfare of a free 
State. As a natural consequence, the annual trainings in the spring 
and the autumn, were kept up with great spirit during nearly a gener- 
ation and a half. 

Training was a great event for the commissioned officers and the or- 
derly sergeants in those old days. The captain was allowed to feel 
rather large on those occasions. The following anecdote, though be- 
longing to a neighboring State, is illustrative. As the captain of the 
Governor's Foot Guards, on the morning of Election-day, was moving 
along the street in New Haven, with great majesty, the boys were struck 
with his appearance, and whispered to each other : " There goes the 
Governor." On hearing the words, he turned, and with imposing sua- 
vity, replied : " Not yet my little lads." ' Making suitable deductions, 
this spirit of elation is rather becoming in a military officer. 

The boys of the present day can have no idea of an old-fashioned 
training. The uniforms notable for anything but uniformity ; the guns 
of all sorts and sizes ; the drill ; the marches, including " whipping the 
snake ; the sham-fight ; the firing, when no two made a noise at the 
same time ; the " shouting of the captain," and the wheeling of the 
" awkward squad ;" and all accompanied by the " ear-piercing fife and 
the spirit-stirring drum," combined to make a sight worth seeing. The 
side-shows, the hucksters with pies, hard-boiled eggs and cards of gin- 
gerbread, and the motley crowd running before, beside or behind the 
soldiery, added to the comic features of the scene. But though the 
" training" had so much of the droll and the ridiculous for its accompani- 
ments, if an enemy had made an attack on those soldiers, he would have 
found them with courage true as steel, and with a skill in hitting the 
mark which would prove dangerous to their foes. Then it should be 
said that the scenes above depicted, characterized that period in our his- 
tory when the militia had run down, and before the volunteer compa- 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 299 

nles had begun to awaken a true military spirit again. Forty years 
ago one company in this town was disbanded. In eight years more, 
the other disappeared from view. Previous to the first date, trainings 
were conducted with great spirit. A sham-fight was a " mimic war," 
and the soldiers took a just pride in their military appearance. Then 
came the period of indifference and decline. When the volunteer sys- 
tem was in vogue, a spirited company was formed in this place — 1845 
— and made a creditable show when on parade ; but in about seven 
years, it was found too burdensome to keep up the proper drill, as well 
as too expensive to procure handsome equipments, and give the required 
time to company exercises and camp-duties. The company was dis- 
banded in 1852, since when there has been no military organization in 
the town. But when the fell and wicked rebellion broke out in the 
spring of 1861, it was instantly evident that the stuff which soldiers are 
made of, was here in large measure. And the success of our arms in 
that great struggle raises the question again, whether it is better for 
a nation to keep up a costly preparation for Avar, or on the other hand, 
by economy of its means, increase its population and resources so as to 
be more able to cope with its enemies. 



300 HISTORY OF WINCHBNDON. 



CH A PTERXXI.— CEMETERIES 



Beneath those whispering pines, that oak tree's shade, 
Where heaves the turf in many a mouldering heap, 

Each in his narrow cell forever laid, 

The rude forefathers of the hamlet sleep. 

The breezy call of incense-breathing morn, 
The swallow twittering from the straw-built shed, 

The cock's shrill clarion, or the echoing horn, 
No more shall rouse them from their lowly bed. 

Gray's Elegy. 

In many towns there are burying-yards in every neighborhood, be- 
sides private burial places for families. Here, the better way of bring- 
ing the remains of all the departed to the centre, was followed for many 
years, though the people were scattered over the whole township. At 
length the yard in the south-west part of the town was set apart for the 
dead. About a hundred years after the settlement of the town, the 
Cemetery was put in order and consecrated with appropriate services. 
More recently the Catholic lot was laid out and fenced. These will 
be described in their order. 

1. — THE OLD CENTRAL BURYING YARD. 

"The life of man 
Is summed in birthdays and in sepulchres, 
But the eternal God had no beginning." 

The Proprietors of Ipswich Canada, on the 27th of October, 1737, 
voted to reserve five acres out of the lot No. 1, in the south division, 
" for building a meeting-house on, a burying-place and training-field." 
The settlers, when they came to look over the locality, decided that a 
more convenient and better place could be found for the meeting-house 
and the training-field, and therefore selected the present Common in the 
centre o/ the town. In this connection it may be said, that strenuous 
exertions were made by a few of the inhabitants to have the meeting- 
house at the centre of the line east and west from Ashburnham to Roy- 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 



301 



alston, which -would be about a hundred rods Avest of the Common, and 
about an equal distance east of the house of Enoch Wyman. A road 
was petitioned for by Abner Curtice, to go from the Village by the 
above spot, and on towards Templeton. Such a route -would avoid the 
ascent to the Common, as the hill is lower two or three furlongs west, 
and would pass to the west of the hill north of Luke Wilder' s, and the 
other hill beyond the Bell school-house. But though the road was ac- 
cepted, once if not twice, by the town, it was never opened. Nor can 
we doubt the good judgment which fixed upon the old Common as the 
centre for the meeting-house and the training-field. But in making 
this decision, the settlers concluded to have the burying-yard at the 
original location. 

It is probable that the original design was to have the meeting-house 
somewhere south of the old hearse-house, and the burying-yard behind 
it, according to ancient custom. Then there would be room for the 
training-field at the north end of the lot, where most of the graves are 
now. The first grave was back of the supposed spot selected for the 
meeting-house, and where the first fence was erected. Afterwards the 
south fence of the burying-yard was run from a point just south of the 
hearse-house, eastward to the east line of the lot, thus leaving the first 
grave outside of the yard. By the enlargement of the yard a few years 
since, and the removal of the wall, at the same time, this first grave is 
brought again into the sacred enclosure. 

There is something touching associated with this first grave. It was 
made, according to Mr. Hyde, " about 1752 ;" in the words of Dr. 
Whiton, " about this time — 1755 — the precise year not known." Prob- 
ably the latter date is the nearest to correctness. Here was laid the 
body of Joshua Priest, the first adult white, and it is believed the first 
white person, that was buried in the town. He was a blacksmith, and 
began the Eli Smith, or Thomas farm, since known as the Scribner 
place, at the summit of the road north of the Luke Wilder place. He 
was frozen to death on or near the Prentice hill, not far from Merritt 
Hale's, in a snow storm. The Prentice hill rises east from Waterville, 
south of the river. It is supposed that while going home, drawing a 
hand-sled loaded with hay, he fell into some pool or brook, and wet his 
clothes. Says Dr.* Whiton : " I have often seen his lonely grave, but 
it was long since obliterated by the plow." 

Death follows us wherever we go, and thankful should we be, that 



302 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 

by the graee of God, through Jesus Christ, the " last enemy" can be 
transformed into a friend. But notwithstanding the divine goodness in 
this regard, we can never cease to mourn the final departure of those 
dear to our hearts. , The spot where their remains find a last resting- 
place will ever have a mournful interest. As we walk amid the mounds, 
perhaps carelessly, we are near the dust over which bereaved parents 
and friends have often wept, the dust of those whose death brought the 
prematurely gray hair of their parents to the grave. There is not space, 
nor would it be judicious, to refer to one in a hundred of those who lie 
buried in the old grave-yard ; but a brief allusion may be made to one 
cluster of graves where many hopes lie buried. In 1762, December 
15, the Rev. Daniel Stimpson was ordained pastor of the Church. He 
married his cousin Beulah. In less than six years, his w T ife and two 
little children were laid in the earth ; and while his eyes were still wet 
with tears, he was summoned to join them. " Then shall the dust re- 
turn to the earth as it was, and the spirit to God who gave it." Their 
bodies lie near each other, till the resurrection ; their spirits, we trust, 
were re-united in the land of immortal life. Not a stone marks their 
graves, and but a few know in what part of the yard they may be found. 
It is to be hoped that either Mr. Stimpson's descendants, or the citi- 
zens of the town, will place some memorial where he who was the first 
minister of the town as well as the church, reposes till the heavens be 
no more. He was buried at the right of the grave of his son Luther. 

It would seem, from the Records, that the yard was not enclosed for 
many years after its first occupancy. The town voted, March 7, 1768, 
that " the burying-yard be cleared this year." On the 2d of May, 
1797, about forty-two years after the interment of Mr. Priest, the town 
chose a committee — Deacons Prentice and Hale, and Desire Tolman, 
afterwards Deacon — " to view the burying-ground, with a view to fenc- 
ing the same." On the 4th of the following September, a committee 
of three was chosen to " take security of Samuel Crosby, Esq., and 
Dr. Israel Whiton, for a passage into the burying-yard, and of Mr. 
Jonas Bruce, for a strip of land adjoining the east side of said yard." 
Whether the yard was fenced in 1797, is uncertain ; but if so, the fence 
was a frail one ; for in 1803, May 2d, it was again voted" to fence the 
burying-ground." Still the work was delayed, as is indicated by the 
two following votes ; one on the 21st of November, and the other on 
the 2d of December, 1803. By the first, the town declined to " buy 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. S03 

an addition of an acre on the west side of the burying-yard," of Dr. 
Whiton. By the other, the town decided to " purchase an acre of land 
west of the burying-ground, till it conies to the road." A committee was 
chosen to buy the land of Dr. Whiton, with power to fence the yard. 
It is supposed that the yard was enlarged and fenced at this time. 

Since the bifrial of Mr. Stimpson, many others, aged and young, had 
been laid around their minister. Dea. Richard Day was killed by an 
accident in 1774, and was buried, about three-quarters of the distance 
from the hearse-house to the east wall. No stone marks the spot. Three 
years before, two lads, William Oaks and Robert Moffatt, aged 17 and 
16 years, were drowned. In those early days, when the people were 
few, we may not doubt, there was a deep sense of sadness and sympa- 
thy throughout the town. They were buried side by side near the 
northeast corner of the yard, close by the grave of Lt. Levi Heywood. 

A few graves, unmarked by stones, but identified by Mr. Luke Rice, 
may be noted. Stephen Rixby, who was killed by Daniel Robbins, was 
buried near Levi Bixby. The boy Moor, who hung himself, was laid 
just back of the grave of Benjamin Hubbard. Jonas Bradish was buried 
near the east end. 

A single stone marks the grave of four children of David Stoddard. 
They all died in 1786. Another stone commemorates three children 
of Rev. Joseph Brown. One died in 1771, the other two in 1775. 

The yard is not rich in epitaphs. The following, on the gravestone 
of Joel Rugg, aged 23, who died, August 27, 1775, is not common. 

" My youthful days cut short by thee, 
Ave lengthened to eternity ; 
Yet all that in Jehovah die, 
Shall live and sing eternally." 

It would almost seem as if a fatality attended the Stimpsons. In 
July, 1781, a child of Samuel Stimpson was drowned in a well nearly 
opposite the old Nichols tavern ; and ten years later, Mr. Jonathan 
Stimpson was killed by a falling tree. In the half-century from 1752 
to 1803, a generation and a half had fallen asleep, and were quietly laid 
away in what our Saxon forefathers beautifully called " God's acre." 
All ages and classes were there : — 

" The youth in life's green spring, and he who goes 
In the full strength of years, matron and maid, 
And the sweet babe, and the gray-headed man." 



304 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 

Before the next attempt to improve the yard, in the year 1822, the 
Rev. Mr. Pillsbury, the third minister, had been buried here with rev- 
erent hands. Col. Paul Raymond, the elder Prentice, Mr. William 
Whitney, and hundreds of others, including Browns, Boyntons, Rices, 
McElwains, Hales, Bixbys, Tuckers, Woodburys, Greenwoods, Flints, 
Perleys, Crosbys, Polands, Hydes, Wilders ; in a word, representatives 
of all the early families, were laid in the narrow house. 

Nothing farther seems to have been done to the yard, except pri- 
vately, for more than forty years. In 1847, April 5, the Report of 
the Selectmen on the matter of a Hearse House was heard by the town, 
when on motion of Mr. Harry Pitkin, it was voted that the Selectmen 
be " authorized to build a Hearse House, and repair the fences ; also to 
purchase additional lands for the burying-grounds." Two years later, 
June 11, 1849, a committee of three — Dea. Paul Raymond, Mr. John 
Woodbury, and Dea. John Cutter — was chosen " to lot, and stake off, 
and number, the several lots in the centre burying-ground." From 
this it would seem that the former vote respecting the purchase of ad- 
ditional land, had been carried out hj the Selectmen. The following 
shows that they had done something in the way of fencing. In 1851, 
March 3, for making " wall round burying-ground, $55.17." 

Within a few years last past, this ancient yard has been much im- 
proved. The parts most recently occupied, have been laid out with 
regularity, handsome monuments have been set up, — in some cases, tak- 
ing the place of more rustic specimens of the lapidary's art ; — iron fen- 
ces have been erected ; the front wall has been relaid, and shade trees 
have been planted. The children have been honoring their fathers and 
mothers. Since the opening of the Riverside Cemetery, the remains 
of quite a number have been transferred to it from the ancient yard. 

In 1860, May 28, it was voted to " build a substantial stone wall on 
the west line of the Cemetery, from the hearse house north." The Cem- 
etery Commissioners were to see the work done. This vote refers to 
the old yard. On the 7th of March, 1864, the Commissioners were 
instructed " to make such improvement in the Old Burying Ground on 
the Hill as they may think proper." And here, to the lasting honor 
of Dr. Joshua Tucker, the distinguished dentist of Boston, it should be 
recorded, that the yard has recently been decorated with numerous 
shade trees, at his expense. 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 305 

THE NEW BOSTON BURYING YARD. 

" This sunny plain, beneath that pine-clad slope, 
Holds fast the dreamless sleepers. The iron-horse 
With his unearthly shriek disturbs them not : — 
They wait the archangel's trump." 

Anon. 

The burying-yard in the southwesterly part of the town, was set apart 
in some year between 1770 and 1780. It was given by Capt. Thomas 
Sawyer, and comprised, at first, but half an acre. 

A little child was the first occupant of this yard. This was a child 
of Aaron Ellis, which was scalded to death. Mr. Ellis lived near where 
C. C. Alger's house now stands. The second person buried here was 
the grandmother of the same Mr. Ellis. Next came the wife of Rob- 
ert Bradish ; Lydia Morton, and a pair of twins. From this time, this 
little enclosure has been gathering its inhabitants from all the houses 
in that section of the town, till now it probably contains more than all 
who are living on the same territory. Nothing farther is found in the 
Records respecting the yard before the year 1822, when on the 6th of 
May, an article was acted upon, " about fencing the burying-yard in 
the southwest part of the town." Lieut. Paul Raymond, Capt. Israel 
Whitcomb and Capt. Joshua Stoddard, were chosen a committee "to 
inquire into the situation of the burying-ground, and see if any addition 
of land can be purchased to enlarge the same, and also to see something 
about fencing it, and report." The Report was made at the next annu- 
al meeting, March *, 1823, and the same committee was directed to 
" superintend the building of the fence around the burying-yard." The 
building of it was " struck off" to Jonathan Wyman, at $31.50. 

In 1839 the Selectmen were chosen a committee " to fence the bury- 
ing-ground near Charles Borman's." This Borman was the son of John 
G. Martin Burneyman. By degrees the second syllable of his name 
was dropped, the letter u in the first was changed to o, and his name 
became Borman. He was a Hessian. 

The vote in 1847, (already cited) relative to purchasing additional 
land for the burying-grounds, applied to this yard as well as that at the 
Centre. The next year $5.25 were laid out in repairing the fence of 
this yard. In 1850, June 11, the following were chosen a committee, 
—viz : George Alger, C. C. Alger, and Joel Sibley—" to lot and stake 
off, and number the several lots in the New Boston burying-ground." 

SO 



306 HISTORY OF WINCHEND03T. 

In 1862, at the annual meeting, C. C. Alger, Luke Rice, Orrin Nor- 
cross and Joel Sibley, were chosen a committee " to put the New Bos- 
ton burying-yard in order." 

This yard has a very pleasant location, and by the cultivation of flow- 
ers and shrubbery, it may become a beautiful cemetery. 

THE RIVERSIDE CEMETERY. 

" Over the river they beckon to me, 

Loved ones who've crossed to the further side, 
The gleam of their snowy robes I see, 
But their voices are lost in the dashing tide." 

Miss Priest. 

About twenty years since there began to be a want of additional ac- 
commodation for the burial of the dead. At the same time, there was 
a strong desire on the part of many, that a new lot should be obtained 
and laid out after the manner of a modern Cemetery. This growing 
feeling took shape, by degrees, and finally resulted in procuring and 
putting in order one of the most beautiful rural cemeteries in the Com- 
monwealth. A somewhat full account of the steps taken in fulfillment 
of this sacred enterprise, deserves a place in this history. In giving 
it the Records will be strictly followed. 

On the 28th of November, 1848, the Selectmen — Messrs. Elisha 
Beaman, Harvey Wyruan and Levi Raymond — were authorized to" pur- 
chase a piece of land for a burying-ground in suck place as they may 
think will best accommodate the inhabitants of said town." Later in 
the day, one from each district was chosen " to purchase land forbury- 
ing-grounds." Thus authorized, the Selectmen, in company with sev- 
eral gentlemen invited by them, examined various lots in the north part 
of the town, for the purpose of finding the one most suitable. Among 
others, they looked at the sightly spot now occupied by Washington 
"Whitney ; the gentle slope of William Brown, southeast of the brick- 
yard ; the beautiful hill-side extending from Henry Wyman's towards 
the village, called the Prentiss lot ; the pleasant grounds around the res- 
idence of James Whitman, called the Tucker lot ; and also the Whit- 
comb lot, so called, conveniently situated at the north end of the cen- 
tral burying-yard. They preferred above all locations, the Adams lot, 
where the two branches of Miller's river unite and form Whitney's pond. 
Accordingly they purchased several acres of Capt. Oliver Adams. This 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDOK. 307 

is now the Catholic Cemetery. On the 2d of October, 1849, a com- 
mittee was chosen to " lot out and fence the new Cemetery." Anoth- 
er committee was chosen, on the 10th of December, to " purchase an 
addition to the lot obtained of Oliver Adams ;" they were also author- 
ized to purchase the Parks lot. The committee on lotting and fencing 
the Adams lot, laid out the ground in squares, with convenient paths, 
and drove the stakes. Their bill, including their own services, " for 
work on burying-ground," at the next March meeting, was $106.04. 
The Parks lot was not secured. 

On the 4th of May, 1850, the burying-ground committee were " in- 
structed to examine morelots ;" and on^the 23d, were directed to " pur- 
chase the Parks lot." On the 27th, a town meeting was held which 
was adjourned to the Adams lot ; met there, and examined that and the 
Parks lot. On the 11th of June, the vote in favor of buying the Parks 
lot was reconsidered. March 18, 1851, the Selectmen — Moses Han- 
cock, Nelson D. White and Oliver Adams — were directed to " make 
a plan of the lots and number them ;" persons were to select their lots, 
and the sexton to record them ; also, name and date ofburials. A place 
was to be set apart for strangers. In 1852, March 1, the bill for " the 
burying-ground road and for stone posts," was $115.08. 

No progress was made during the next four or five years. At length, 
in 1856, September 6, a committee previously appointed, of which Dea. 
E. Butler was chairman, reported the Tucker lot as available. A vote 
was taken to see which lot suited the largest number. The result fol- 
lows : Parks lot, 14 ; Adams lot, 20 ; Tucker lot, 5 ; Prentiss lot, 4. 
On the 13th of the same month, a new vote was taken, with this result : 
Adams, 7 ; Prentiss, 2 ; Tucker, 4 ; Parks, 5 ; Whitcomb, 14. By 
this time a number of the citizens had become settled in their minds, 
that the Parks lot — first suggested by Dea. Reuben Hyde — was supe- 
rior to any other in the whole town for a Cemetery, and they were re- 
solved to secure it by persevering effort. A new committee was cho- 
sen with Capt. E. Murdock, Jr., as chairman, who reported to the town 
on the 6th of October, 1857, in favor of the Parks lot ; whereupon it 
was voted " to purchase said lot of twenty-five acres." At the same 
time a committee was chosen — Messrs. E. Murdock, Jr., Gilman B. 
Parker, John Cutter, Orlando Mason, John H. Fairbanks, Bethuel El- 
lis and Maynard Partridge, to draw up a " plan for preparing the lot 
for a Cemetery, and the manner of fencing, and estimate the expense 



308 HISTORY OF WTNCHENDON. 

of the same, and present it to the town." The committee reported, 
on the 3d of November, in favor of fencing and some improvements ; 
and also, " that a portion should be put into lots and sold ; and that as 
long as any one will pay a dollar for choice, they shall be sold for choice, 
and all money raised shall be used in ornamenting the ground." It 
was also voted " that a Board of Commissioners should be chosen an- 
nually to execute and carry out the instructions of the town given from 
time to time." Chose Ephraim Murdock, Jr., Seth Tucker, Gilman 
B. Parker, Bethuel Ellis and John Henry Fairbanks, the first Board 
of Commissioners. 

The Commissioners invited the citizens to appear on the ground at 
an- appointed day, with hatchets and axes, hoes, shovels and rakes, and 
assist in clearing the ground, and trimming the trees. Many respond- 
ed to the call, and cheerfully engaged in the work, in the autumn of 
this year ; and thus the field was prepared for the scientific surveyor. 

At the next annual meeting, March 1, 1858, it was reported that 
$480.84 had been laid out for Cemetery land, and $135.32 for expen- 
ses incurred by the Commissioners. They were empowered to employ 
Mr. Amasa Ferrier, of Stoneham, a gentleman of experience and taste, 
to mark out the avenues and paths, and lay out the lot into squares, 
circles, ellipses or triangles, according to the nature of the ground. 
They were also instructed to fence and prepare the Cemetery ground 
agreeable to the recommendations of the former Board. A new Board 
was chosen as follows : E. Murdock, Jr., G. B. Parker, N. D. White, 
E. S. Merrill and J. H. Fairbanks. These have been annually re-elect- 
ed until 1867, when the vacancy caused by the decease of Dea. Par- 
ker was filled by the election of Charles J. Rice, Esq. 

THE CONSECRATION SERVICES. 

The lot was now well prepared for its destined uses. Nature had 
graced it with varied amenity and loveliness. Mr. Ferrier, with the 
skill of a landscape gardener, ran all his lines so as to heighten the nat- 
ural beauty of the scene. The plain, slightly variegated, and covered 
with sighing pine trees and other natives of the forest, the curving hill- 
side sloping to the water's edge ; the river, — now babbling over the rocks, 
and then losing itself in the pond — flashing in the sunshine or broken 
into bubbles by the falling rain-drops ; the charming curve, covered 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON, 309 

with the mayflower, — -which in this town, is noted for its peculiar beauty 
and fragrance — where the tomb is placed ; with the fine prospects in 
different directions, all combine to render this spot one of the most de- 
lightful to be found in a summer's travel. It seems as if the Creator 
had made it for a sweet and quiet resting-place for the departed. 

On the 14th of June, 1858, there was a meeting in the town hall to 
make arrangements for the consecration of the Cemetery by appropri- 
ate services. The meeting adjourned to the Cemetery lot, and chose 
a committee whose duty it was " to name the Cemetery and superin- 
tend the consecration of the same." The committee were Elisha Mur- 
doch, George Brown, Sidney Fairbanks, William L. Woodcock, Will- 
iam Brown, 2d, Orlando Mason, Edwin Parks, William W. Godding, Ja- 
cob B. Harris and Charles J. Rice. The Commissioners were instruct- 
ed to build a Receiving Tomb, to be used as a temporary place of in- 
terment ; to draw up Regulations and submit them to the town ; to pro- 
ceed to the sale of lots immediately after the consecration services ; and 
to obtain seven hundred lithographic plans of the Cemetery. The com- 
mittee reported the following as suitable names for the Cemetery : Riv- 
erside ; Pine Grove ; Spring Grove ; and Evergreen. The first had 
a majority of voices. 

The first day of July was devoted to the consecration services by the 
town, -a large number of the people—- men, women and children — being 
present. But before the appointed time, the angel Death had antici- 
pated the citizens, and consecrated the field by a solemn and impressive 
event. Mrs. Jane Fifield Mason, Avife of Mr. Orlando Mason, was bu- 
ried here by special permission, a day or two before the Cemetery was 
formally set apart to be the habitation of the dead. With feelings chas- 
tened by this occurrence, the town met on the first day of July, at 1 
P. M., and after the adoption of several Rules and Regulations, ad- 
journed the meeting until after the Ceremonies of the Consecration. 
These having been performed, the town meeting was called to order, 
and it was voted " that the fence be painted and sanded." 

The Exercises at the Consecration were as follows, under the direc- 
tion of Capt. Ephraim Murdoch, Jr., the Marshal of the day. 1, Sing- 
ing ; 2, Introductory Prayer and Reading of the Scriptures, by Rev. 
Benjamin F. Cteixke, Pastor of the First Congregational Church ; 3, 
Singing ; 4, Address by Rev. Abijah P. Marvin, Pastor of the North 



310 ErSTORY OF WtNCHE^DOjr. 

Congregational Church ; 5, Consecrating Prayer, by Rev. Yfilliam J. 
Hambleton ; 6, Singing. The Music was furnished by a union of choirs, 
under the lead of Messrs. Edwin S. Merrill, and William L. Woodcock. 
The passages of Scripture read were very appropriate. Besides oth- 
ers, the following seemed peculiarly fitting to the occasion, indicating 
as they do, that a rural burial-place is as old as the days of Abraham. 

"And the field of Ephron, which was in Machpelah, which was before Mam- 
Fe, the field and the cave which was therein, and all the trees that were in the 
field, that were in all the borders round about, were made sure unto Abraham 
for a possession in the presence of the children of Heth, before all that went 
in at the gate of his city. And after this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in 
the cave of the field of Machpelah, before Mamrc." 

Whatever improvements,— and they are many — have been made by 
the Commissioners, or by private persons, since the time of the conse- 
cration, may be learned from the annual Report of the Boai-d, or by 
visiting the Cemetery. 

TEE CATHOLIC CEMETERY. 

" Upon the cross were fixed our closing eyes ; 

The cross liere marks our graves ; and when we rise; 

Our trust Will be the Crucified." 

Soxg of Hope. 

The inhabitants of Winchendon, previous to 1847, when the railroad 
reached the place, were, with the exception of a few Canadian French, 
native Americans. At that time emigrants from Ireland began to take 
up their abode here. For several years however, they were accustomed 
to take the remains of their relatives to Fitchburg for burial. To ob- 
viate the great expense and loss of time which this course laid upon 
them, they took measures to obtain a suitable burial-place within the 
limits of the town. The Adams lot, though not used by the town for 
the purpose for which it was purchased, had not been sold.- This lot 
being very eligible, was desired by the Catholics for a Cemetery. The 
matter came before the town on the 7th of March, 1864, when it was 
voted to " give the Adams lot to the Catholics for a Cemetery, provid- 
ed that all money received for the sale of lots, shall be expended on the 
land in fitting it up for a burial-ground," 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 311 

It was found however that the condition was unacceptable, as the 
bishop, who holds all grounds devoted to burial-purposes in trust, would 
not accept the offer with restrictions in regard to the use of money de- 
rived from the sale of lots, beyond fencing the field. Whereupon the 
town passed the following vote : " that the town Treasurer make a gra- 
tuitous transfer of the land deeded to the town by Oliver Adams, to 
T. H. Bowman, or bishop Fitzpatrick, of Boston, in trust, on condition 
that it be used for burial purposes, and no others. The grantees to 
make and maintain all fences." 






312 HISTORY OF WINCHENDOK". 



CHAPTER XXII.— THE CHURCHES. 



"Oh, where are kings and empires now 

Of old that went and came? 
But, Lord, thy church is praying yet, 

A thousand years the same. 

"We mark her goodly battlements, 

And her foundations strong ; 
We hear within the solemn voice 

Of her unending song. 

Eor not like kingdoms of the world 

Thy holy church, O God ! 
Though earthquake shocks are threatening her, 

And tempests are abroad. 

Unshaken as eternal hills, 

Immovable she stands, 
A mountain that shall fill the earth, 

A house not made with hands." 

Bp. Coxe. 

THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, 

As the town was a parish for about sixty years after its incorpora- 
tion, it was necessary to give its history in that capacity. But the his- 
tory of the various churches and religious organizations is quite dis- 
tinct, and demands a separate place in this volume. 

As stated already on another page, the Records of the First Congre- 
gational Church, during the first thirty-eight years of its existence, — 
from 1762 to 1800 — are lost. When the Rev. Joseph Brown, the sec- 
ond minister, was dismissed, in December, 1799, he retained in his own 
possession whatever papers and records relating to the history of the 
Church, had been accumulating from the beginning, in 1762. All ef- 
forts to induce him to surrender these documents were unavailing, and 
his family, when applied to in after years, could find no trace of them. 
Besides a few facts and dates, therefore, there are no authentic mate- 
rials for the history of the Church previous to the beginning of this cen- 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 313 

tury, except what are found in the town Records. As the town was 
a parish down to the year 1825, its Records throw some light on the 
history of the Church. But these belong to the history of the toAvn in 
its parochial capacity, and have, for the most part, been used in that 
connection. 

EARLY HISTORY. 

In the " Book of Records belonging to the Church of Christ in Win- 
chendon, bought in February, A. D. 1802," and containing the Records 
down to the close of the ministry of the Rev. Eber L. Clark, in the year 
1835, there is, on the second page, in the handwriting of the Rev. Levi 
Pillsbury, the following entry : 

" The Church of Christ in Winchendon was first gathered in the year of our 
Lord 1762, on the 15th of December, at which time the Rev. Daniel Stimp- 
son, the first minister, was ordained. The Rev. Mr. Stimpson was educated 
at Harvard College. He departed this life in July, A. D. 1768. His sal- 
ary was $60 annually, and for settlement 100 acres of land. The Rev. Jo- 
seph Brown, the second minister, was ordained May 24th, 1769. He was 
educated at Harvard College. After much difficulty with the Church and 
people, he was dismissed in December, 1799." 

Other items of information have been gathered from different sources, 
which will be given in the order of time. The Proprietors' Book shows 
that a Mr. Harvey was here as a preacher, as early as 1758, five or 
six years after the first permanent settlement, and when there were 
probably not more than a dozen or fifteen families on the ground. In 
1761, Sept. 22, Samuel Hunt, David Goodridgc and Richard Day, 
were chosen a committee to " provide preaching in the Township of 
Ipswich Canada ;" and at the same time it was voted to raise " two 
dollars on each original Right, to pay for preaching ;" and also, that 
" the committee be ordered to provide a preacher half the Sabbaths." 

The Council which ordained the first minister, on the fifteenth of De- 
cember, 1762, was called by the Proprietors. The Churches in Wes- 
ton, Harvard, Lunenburg and Dorchester Canada, were invited to the 
Council. The Church itself was organized on that day. The manner 
of proceeding is a matter of conjecture ; but it is probable that the first 
business of the Council on coming together, was to assist in organizing 
the Church. Then, we suppose, the Church extended a Call to Mr. 
Stimpson to settle with them in the Ministry. The way would thus bo 



314 HISTORY OF WINCflENDON. 

prepared for the Council to proceed to the examination of the candidate, 
and if the examination were satisfactory, to engage in the ordination 
services. 

At this time the number of families was from twenty to twenty-five, 
besides whom there were several young men without families. The 
number of inhabitants might have been one hundred and fifty. 

THE CHURCH COVENANT. 

The following document, obligingly furnished by the Hon. Artemas 
Hale, of Bridgewater, from the papers of his father, Dea. Moses Hale, 
was the original Covenant of the Church. It is here inserted, with the 
proviso made for those who -became members on the basis of the Half- 
way Covenant. 

" Professing a serious and hearty belief of the Scriptures, you do now, in 
an everlasting covenant, give up yourselves to God in Jesus Christ, and hum- 
bly and penitently, ask of God the pardon of all your sins through the blood 
of Christ. And with all your hearts you desire to accept of Jesus Christ as 
your Redeemer and only Saviour, as he is offered to poor sinners in the Gos- 
pel. You do also promise solemnly before God, holy angels, and this assem- 
bly, that by the help of the Holy Spirit, denying ungodliness and all worldly 
lusts, you will endeavor to live soberly, righteously and godly, in this present 
world ; and that you will be working out your salvation with fear and trem- 
bling, that you will forsake the vanities of this evil world, and approve your- 
selves disciples of Christ, in all good conscience and conversation, both toward 
God and toward man. You do also submit and subject yourselves to the gov- 
ernment of Christ in his Church, and to the rules of his kingdom, and disci- 
pline regularly administered in this Church. And particularly you promise, 
as long as God shall continue you among us, to walk in regular communion 
with the Church of Christ in this place ; together with this people to attend 
all the holy ordinances and institutions of his house, and to carry it here ac- 
cording to the rules of the Gospel ; and in all things walk agreeable to what 
you know, or shall know, to be your duty. 

Do you thus covenant and pi'omise ? 

I, then, in the name of Jesus Christ, the Great Head of the Church, de- 
clare you members in full communion with this Church of Christ, and in the 
name of the Church, promise, that, by the help of the same Divine Spirit, we 
will carry it towards you as members of the same body with ourselves, watch- 
ing over you for your good, and that in a spirit of meekness, love and tender- 
ness, earnestly praying that God would take delight in us, dwell among us, 
and that his kingdom may be advanced by us. Amen." 



HISTORY OF WlSTCHENDOft. 815 

The Covenant, as thus given, was for " those who make no reserve, 
but can come immediately to the Table of the Lord." In the case of 
" those who make a reserve through doubts and fears, and are afraid 
to come to the Table of the Lord," the arrangement was to leave out 
all after the words — "And particularly you promise," — and use the 
following formula : 

" And that we will, by earnest prayer, seek for those further qualifications 
which we judge necessary to a worthy approach to the Table of the Lord, so 
that we may walk in regular communion with the Church of Christ in this 
place ; together with this people attend all the holy ordinances and institutions 
of his house, and to carry it here according to the rules of the Gospel, and in 
all things walk agreeable to what we know- or shall know, to be our duty. 

Do you heartily consent to this Covenant ? 

As you have thus solemnly covenanted with God and his Church, be care- 
ful to fulfill your covenant obligations, and perform your vows." 

There was an ancient rule of the Church, perhaps adopted in Mr. 
Stinapson's day, " that persons stand propounded three Sabbaths as can- 
didates for communion." 

There is no list extant of the members of the Church during the set- 
tlement of Mr. Stiinpson. There is no tradition in regard to the num- 
ber relative to the whole population. It is known that some of the prin- 
cipal inhabitants, like Dea. Day, David Goodridge and others, were 
members. It is supposed that some joined on the " half-way" plan, in 
Mr. Stimpson's time. In relation to these points, the following lines 
from Dr. Whiton, who had means of information, not found in existing 
Records, will be of some value. In his pastorate of six years, " fifteen 
persons had been added to the little Church, and a larger number had 
1 owned the Covenant,' a phrase hardly intelligible at this day, but then 
in familiar use to signify the admission of persons to the privilege of 
baptism for their children, without binding themselves to the observ- 
ance of the Lord's Supper, till their scruples in relation to their own 
moral fitness for this Christian ordinance should be removed." It is 
probable that the fifteen added to the Church in Mr. Stimpson's pas- 
torate, were in addition to the original members. Richard Day was 
the first Deacon, and was chosen to that office on the 24th of March, 
1763. It was voted at that meeting to have the sacrament of the Lord's 
Supper administered on the first Sabbath of the following May. Dea. 



316 HISTORY OP WINCIIENDOtf* 

Day appears to have had no colleague till November 12, 1767, when 
Abel Wilder was elected. 

DEATH AND CHARACTER OP MR. STIMPSON. 

In July, 1768, Mr. Stimpson was seized with a " malignant putrid 
fever," and died after a few days' sickness, on the 20th day of the 
month. He was born in Weston, in the year 1731, and was therefore 
thirty-seven years of age. He was a graduate of Harvard, of the Class 
of 1759, a class-mate of the second Governor Trumbull, of Connecticut, 
and of Judge Wingate, of New Hampshire. " Though," says Dr. 
Whiton, " not a man of vigorous intellect or showy talent, he was yet 
a respectable charactor, and though diffident and retiring, enjoyed the 
confidence of his people. He is said to have destroyed his manuscript 
sermons at the commencement of his last sickness." The Boston Chron- 
icle of August 27, 1768, contained the following notice of his decease : 
" We hear from AVinchendon, that on the 20th died, and on the 22d 
was decently interred, the Rev. Mr. Daniel Stimpson, Pastor of the 
Church in that place, in the 37th year of his age." 

As stated in another place, his wife and two little children died be- 
fore him. He left two other little children, a son named Luther, and 
a daughter, Sarah, to be reared by others. Sarah became the wife of 
Bemsly Lord, and afterwards of a Mr. Brown. She removed from 
town. Luther, after arriving at manhood, married a daughter of James 
McElwain, and left children. One of his daughters was the second 
wife of Mr. John Poor. His sons were Daniel, Luther and Levi. Two 
of his grand-sons, great-grand-sons of the minister, are clergymen, and 
have preached in this town. One of these is the Rev. Samuel Stimp- 
son, Baptist, of Terre Haute, Lad.; the other is the Rev. Levi Stimpson, 
Episcopal, of Wilton, Conn. 

An amusing incident has been handed down, which illustrates the 
primitive simplicity of the times, in contrast with Mr. Stimpson's bet- 
ter knowledge of the proprieties. One evening the supper was pud- 
ding and milk. While he was partaking of his bowl, the hired girl, who 
had partly , eaten the contents of her basin, finding there was more than 
she wished, without ceremony poured the residue into the minister's 
basin, that he might eat it, and none be lost. Not exactly relishing 
such a contribution to his allowance, Mr. Stimpson quietly withdrew 
from the table, leaving the rest of his pudding and milk untouched. 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 317 

Something of a man may be learned from his books. The inventory 
of Mr. Stimpson's library, amounted to £12, 18, 3, or about forty dol- 
lars. Old books are cheap. The library contained about fifty volumes, 
besides pamphlets. These are some of the volumes : " Mr. Henry up- 
on the Bible, in 6 vols.;" that is, Matthew Henry's incomparable Com- 
mentary. " Dr. Tillotson's 5th vol. of Sermons, octavo ;" " Derham's 
Demonstration of the Attributes of God ;" " Hervey's Meditations ;" 
" Pictetus' Christian Divinity ;" and several works of Watts, Baxter, 
Willard, Mather, Clark, Rogers, Williams, &c. There is a volume of 
Winthrop on Earthquakes ; Smith's Rhetoric, and Brattle's Logick. 
He had an English Dictionary, by Bailey ; Latin Dictionary ; Virgil's 
Works ; Tully's Orations ; Greek Lexicon ; Greek Testament ; Latin 
Testament and Grammar ; Greek Grammar ; Hebrew Grammar ; Psal- 
ter and Bible. The Lexicons and Grammars opened to him the Bible 
in the original tongues, and the other books were valuable ; but more 
were needed, especially when the minister could resort to no public li- 
brary this side of Cambridge. 

Mr. Stimpson left quite a handsome property for those times. His 
salary was $60 yearly ; he had a settlement of $60 ; and the Proprie- 
tors gave him, as the first minister, one hundred acres of land. The 
inventory of his estate furnishes some items of interest. First, the real 
estate, as follows : 

"LotNo. l,in ye South Divition, containing 90 acres, £120, £120, 0, 

" North Divition, containing 100 acres, £100, 
The House at £5, the Barn at £26, 
Lot No. 65, contains 80 acres, £16, 
" 74, " " " 25, 
The total valuation was 
Among the items of personal estate were the following : 
Ten tons of Hay in the barn, at £1, 12s. per ton, 
Rye, Corn, Beans, Potatoes and Flax amounted to over 
Wearing Apparel, including one Peruke, five pairs white 

Glovee, three Neck Bands, Silver Shoe, neck and knee 

Buckles, Watch and Pocket Compass, 
Woman's Apparel, including among other things, Stone 

Jewels, Stone Buttons, three Gold Rings, Shoe Buckles, 

and Silk Damask Gown, 
Logs and Slitwork at ye Mill, 



100, 0, 





31, : 


, o 


16, 0, 


, o 


25, 0, 





£292, 0, 





£16, 00, 


00 


8, 00, 


00 


23, 02, 


02 


8, 18, 


00 


1, 02, 


00 



S18 HISTORY OT? WINCHENDOIN - . 

In Notes, <£39, 01, 08 

Interest on the Notes, G, 07, 04 

On Book and accompts, 30, 18, 08 

Stock, and Household Goods, more than 70, 00, 00 

Arrearage of Salary, 41, 19, 01 

Making a total of £538, 06, 09." 

There were other items, including " tobacco tongs," but these com- 
prise the bulk of the estate. Mr. Stimpson was quite a business man, 
carrying on a farm, selling timber, and letting horse and oxen for work 
and journeys. Moses Hale, when lie first came to town, was a hired 
man in his family. The house* of Mr. Stimpson, valued at " £5," stood 
near where Mr. Vose now resides, and it is pleasant to add, that the 
great elm there was planted by him. But enough of these details, which 
have been given simply as illustrative of " ye olden time." 

SETTLEMENT OF REV. JOSEPH BROWN. 

The ordination of Mr. Brown took place on the 24th day of May, 
1769. The terms of settlement belong to the account of the town as 
a parish ; but the reply to the invitation to settle, finds its proper place 
here. It was as follows : 
" To" the Church of Christ, and other inhabitants in Winckendon: 

Beloved : — You having sometime since given me an unanimous invitation 
to settle with you in the Gospel Ministry; having taken this your invitation 
into serious consideration, and after seeking direction from Heaven, and ask- 
ing the advice of my friends and relations, I have come to this conclusion, 
namely, to comply with this your invitation to settle with you, and accept of 
your offers annexed to your invitation. 

Seriously entreating your fervent prayers to God for me that I may more 
and more be endowed with such gifts and graces as are necessary for so great 
and important a work, and that I may faithfully and successfully perform it, 
I am your sincere and affectionate friend and servant, 

Joseph Brown. 

Winckendon, March 18th, 1769." 

The settlement of a minister was effected with deliberation by the 
fathers. Mr. Brown was here in the autumn of 1768 ; he accepted 
the invitation to settle in the following March, and was settled in May. 
At this time, the Rev. Mr. Rice was settled in Westminster, Mr. Spar- 

* It is supposed that " Logs ami Slitwork at ye mill," were intended for a 
new house. 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDCHT. 819 

hawk in Templeton, and Mr. Humphrey in Athol. It is not improbable 
that they were members of the Council ; but if so, they took no part in 
the services. The following extract from the Boston " Post Boy," of 
May 29, 17G9, supplies the Lack of Records. It was kindly sent by 
Frederic Kidder, Esq. 

" On the 24th of May, 1769, was ordained at Winehendon, tho Rev. Mr. 
Joseph Brown. The Rev. Mr. Gardner of Leominster began the solemnity 
with prayer ; the Rev. Mr. Clark of Lexington preached a sermon well adapt- 
ed to the occasion, from 1 Thess. 2:4; the Rev. Mr. Lawrence of Lincoln 
prayed and gave the charge ; the Rev. Mr. Woodward of Weston prayed af- 
ter the charge, and the Rev. Mr. dishing of Waltham gave the right hand of 
fellowship. The whole was attended upon with great seriousness and decency." 

All these ministers were from towns in the neighborhood of Mr. 
Brown's early home, which fact accounts for their presence on this oc- 
casion. Not long after, Mr. Lee was settled in Royalston, and Mr., 
afterwards Dr. Cushing, father of the founder of the Cushing Academy, 
was settled in Ashburnham. And thus all the towns in the vicinity 
were supplied with the stated means of grace. 

The congregation must have comfortably filled the meeting-house at 
the time of Mr. Brown's settlement. It is supposed there were about 
sixty families in the town, and not far from three hundred and fifty souls, 
the larger part of whom were generally found in the house of God on 
the Sabbath. 

In clue time, the minister was married — his wife, says tradition, rid- 
ing into town on an ox-cart — and engaged in the duties of his caUinc. 
Where he resided at first, is not known, but sometime after the death 
of Dca. Day, which occurred in 1774, he came into possession of the 
old Day house which he occupied for several years. He was the own- 
er of the house near the meeting-house, for a time, and probably occu- 
pied it. At that time, according to Dr. Whiton, and we can easily be- 
lieve it, 

" The day of straitened circumstances and occasional scanty fare had not 
gone by. Mrs. Brown used to say years afterwards, that when she first came 
to Winehendon, she found the people on and near the Common, "poor as 
poverty, but merry^as grigs," so little is happiness dependent on external 
circumstances. Many families found it difficult, at certain seasons of the year, 
to procure meat, but subsisted on bread and milk and vegetables ; and of these 
even the supply was often scanty. It was difficult to rear sheep on account 



320 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 



of the ravages of the wolves ; and the cattle were too few to furnish many for 
slaughter. One of the most respectable women of that day often remarked, 
that sometimes she became (to use her own words) ' so meat hungry,' that 
could she have procured a piece of meat to boil with her potatoes and turnips, 
to season them with the flesh relish, she could Lave been pretty well satisfied, 
even though not permitted to taste the meat itself. Few fruit trees had then 
come into bearing condition." 



CHURCH MEMBERSHIP IN 1774-7. 

Though there is no list of the members of the Church previous to the 
time of Mr. Pillsbury, yet the author has fortunately found, among the 
papers of Hon. Abel Wilder, a manuscript, which among many other 
things of great interest, contains an " Account of money contributed at 
the Sacrament," on several occasions, in the years 1774, 6, and 7. 
The names follow in the order of their dates, the spelling of the man- 
uscript being copied exactly. 



1774. 
Thaddeus Bowman, 
Hannah Beal, 
David Brown, 
John Cheney, 
John Bay, 
Theo's Mansfield, 
Rev. Joseph Brown, 
Francis Bridge, 
Eben'r Sherwin, 
Amos Merriam, 
Levi Nichols, 
Ruth Day, 
Phillips Sweetzer, 
Prudence Wheelock, 
Deborah Murdock, 
Miles Putnam, 
David Goodridge, 
Ezra Hide. 

1776. 
Releaf Oak, 
Oliv Bradstreet, 



Ruth Darling, 
Hannah Parmenter, 
Hannah Biglow, 
Daniel Goodridge, 
Mrs. David Goodridge, 
Richard Pearson, 
Prudence Sawyer, 
Capt. Warner, 
Widow Oak, 
Widow Bates. 

1777. 

Bill Hancock, 
Capt. Boynton, 
Mary Warner, 
Elizabeth Oak, 
Mrs. Eben'r Smith, 
David Winch, 
Benjamin Brown, 
Eliphalet Goodridge, 
Capt. J. Wilder, 
Joseph Rugg. 



To these should be added, Dea. Abel Wilder, and Dea Richard Day, 
as the latter was alive in the beginning of 1774. 

There are forty-two names in the above list, besides which there are 
various contributions under the heads " Loos money," " In the Peace 



DISTORT OF WINCDENDONi 321 

of an Almanac," "In a peace of a pin paper," " one shilling Bill with- 
out a Name," &c, showing that others contributed besides those whose 
names are recorded. In approximating the actual number of members 
of the Church, it is necessary to remember that in many. cases a male 
member pays for wife, and daughter, and perhaps mother and sister. 
In but a ifew instances in the above list, could husband and wife both 
have paid. That is, the women who paid are not wives or daughters 
of the men who paid. It is probable that the male members, twenty- 
six in number, represented a female membership more numerous than 
themselves. On that supposition, the whole number was, at least, equal 
to seventy. Take another method of estimating. There are generally 
in evangelical Churches, twice as many female as male members. To 
twenty-six males, add fifty-two females, and the number will be seven- 
ty-eight. In round numbers,- .there were probably eighty members of 
the Church, in full communion,- at the opening of the Revolution. To 
these must be added those who joined on the " half-way" plan, since 
they did not attend the Communion, and .therefore did not contribute 
on that occasion. 

THE DEPARTURE OF MR. BROWN. 

From 1777, twenty-two years passed away, of which we have no trace, 
except a few entries in the Records of the town. Then the difficulties 
which had been rife for two or three years, terminated in the dismis- 
sion of Mr. Brown. The recital of these troubles belongs principally 
to town history, and all that is deemed necessary has been given in the 
appropriate place. The town was against the minister, while a major- 
ity of the church stood by him till after his ministerial connection with 
them had come to an end. He was dismissed in December, 1799. All 
that relates to him may as well be completed in this place. The Coun- 
cil sustained ' his ministerial reputation, and gave him the usual com- 
mendation to the Churches. But a difficulty sprang up after his dis- 
mission. He retained the Records, refusing to part with them.. Such 
is the story as told by his opponents. A committee, consisting of the 
new Pastor, and the two Deacons, Messrs. Hale and Pfentice, called 
on him for the purpose of receiving them. The interview closed un- 
pleasantly and abruptly by Mr. Brown ordering Mr. Pillsbury to leave 
his house, with a threat to put him out if he did not depart. What was 

si 



322 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 

said to provoke this language is not recorded. According to tradi- 
tion Mr. Brown, was naturally irascible, and lie might have been dis- 
turbed by what would not have excited a more gentle spirit. The com- 
mittee made a formal demand for the papers, when it is supposable, at 
least, that there were no Records except such as Mr. Brown had kept 
in his own private book. A proposition before the town, about this time, 
to purchase a blank book for him, favors this supposition. The infer- 
ence is, that the book was for him to use in recording loose papers, and 
inserting items from memory. This book was not furnished ; perhaps 
because Mr. Brown declined to use it ; perhaps, because, as he is re- 
ported to have said, the papers had, accidentally, been burned. If the 
Church had never chosen him as Clerk, and furnished him with a Book 
of Records, it could not make a claim for his papers, though a regard 
for its welfare might dictate their transfer. The fact that no legal steps 
were taken to compel him to surrender the Records, gives support to the 
view that there was no basis for a legal demand. In fact, the Records 
were never recovered, and the history of the Church, from its founda- 
tion in 1762 to 1799, is almost a blank. 

Steps were immediately taken to discipline' Mr. Brown as an offend- 
ing member of the Church. He denied its jurisdiction, on the ground 
that he had never been received into the Church except by the ordina- 
tion service. He therefore claimed that his dismission as the pastor, 
severed his entire connection with the Church. But unfortunately, in 
a letter, he had claimed that he was a member, and the Church held 
him to it, while they carried on the process of discipline. The result 
was his excommunication. He left the town, and lived in Vermont, 
where he seems to have been recognized as a minister of the Gospel ; 
from which it may be inferred, that the action of the Church did not 
have the moral force to eifect his ministerial or christian character and 
standing;. 

Mr. Brown was a man of full habit, good size, dark eyes and hair, 
and dark complexion. His abilities were fair, and his learning was 
about equal to that of his ministerial neighbors. It does not appear that 
his preaching made any very marked impression, though he was a man 
of sense and shrewdness. An aged man, speaking of his contest with 
the town, said : " he was too much for the whole of them." He left 
three sons, named Joseph, Amos and John. His three daughters were 
respectably married. One was the wife of Thomas Richardson, M. D. ; 



HISTORY OF WINCHEND03T. 323 

another of Benjamin Hall ; and the third of Francis Goodhue, who re- 
moved to Brattleboro', where he became wealthy, and left a highly re- 
spectable family. The last scene of Mr. Brown's labors was Spring- 
field, Vt. 

SETTLEMENT OF MR. PILLSBURY. 

This took place on the 24th of June, 1801, after the pulpit had been 
vacant about a year and a half. He was called after a thorough hear- 
ing, and the union lasted till his death. He was a native of Tewks- 
bury, and a graduate of Dartmouth College, Class of 1798. His an- 
swer to the invitation to take the oversight of the Church, evinces his 
character, and is a prophecy of his ministry. It is therefore copied 
entire. 

" Since it has pleased the Church and people of this town to make known 
their desire that I should settle with them in the Gospel ministry, I have cho- 
sen this time to give an answer. 

More than sis months have elapsed since I began to preach among you, 
during which time I have been careful to learn your minds and situation, and 
considering your long trials and difficulties, I think as much harmony and 
union prevails as might be expected. And please to accept of my warmest 
gratitude for that attention and respect you have ever manifested toward me 
since my first arrival here. 

The important question respecting my settling in the work of the Gospel 
ministry, and in particular, among you, has caused much study and reflection. 
I have looked, as I trust, to heaven, for assistance and direction ; have asked 
advice of the fathers in the ministry ; and the opinion of friends, hoping for 
such counsel as shall enable me to make a decision that may terminate for the 
good of religion and the glory of God. 

I am well sensible that such is the depravity of the human heart, such is 
the opposition of men by nature to the pure doctrines of the gospel, such is 
the unstable and fluctuating state of soeiety, that very small is the prospect 
of temporal ease and profit to the faithful Preacher. 

Yet as the cause of the Redeemer is great and good, as the promise of Christ 
is sure, " lo, I am with you to the end," as there is a future world of bles- 
sedness prepared for all the righteous, and as God has determined through 
the instrumentality of preaching to save them that believe, we may take courage. 

I therefore now give my answer in the affirmative, and do freely agree to, 
and accept of, your proposals, hoping that grace, mercy and peace may be mul- 
tiplied to us. 



3 24 HISTORY . OFi- WINGEENDOK". . 

Here let it be remembered as there are many false teachers gone out into 
the world, as many crept into houses who have not come into the work of the 
ministry by the door, and wish to build on other men's foundations, it is to be 
understood that no one belonging to this religious society, shall invite or em- 
ploy any person as a preacher, without the knowledge and consent of the pastor. 

You are farther to remember that I shall except [or expect] three or four 
Sabbaths annually, as is usual, to visit friends and relations. 

Perhaps there is no one thing more conducive to the well-being of religious 
society than to be united in the truth. How happy then will it be for us if 
we can love as brethren, strive for union, and study the things that make for 
peace. Knowing the imperfection of human nature, we hope to bear one an- 
other's burdens, to exercise a spirit of candor and forgiveness, and not hasti- 
ly to condemn those whom we think in some things are wrong. Your preach- 
er may sometimes be thought wrong when he is right, and sometimes thought 
wrong when really so ; yet [it] is hoped that your candor and prudence will 
influence you to consult him before you censure bis doctrine or conduct, or 
proclaim abroad his imperfections. Truly I can say that I feel myself, quite 
inadequate to be employed as an Ambassador of the Lord Jesus Christ, and 
to preach the everlasting gospel. Yet trusting in Christ, the Great Head of 
the Church, I hope I may not preach nor labor in vain ; that each one may 
find, by happy experience, a punctual fulfillment of those duties and obliga- 
tions which are incumbent both on minister and people, that all may find that 
it was good for us to be acquainted and united in the most solemn and impor- 
tant things in our world, that it may promote and advance the temporal peace 
and prosperity, and especially the spiritual interest, improvement and welfare 
of all concerned in this agreement. And that the declarative glory of God 

may be advanced. 

Levi Pilsbekry. 
Winchendon, May 7, 1801." 

" Read May 10th, 1801, by Rev. S. Payson in publick." 

The Council met on the 23d of June, and was composed of the fol- 
lowing ministers and their delegates: Rev. Messrs. John Cushing, 
Mr. Lees, Seth Payson, Mr. Aiken, Mr. Barton, John Osgood, 
and Mr. Williams. Several of the Churches sent two delegates, the 
last case of the kind in Councils held in this town. Mr. Sparhawk, of 
Templeton, was invited, but was not present. Rev. John Cushing was 
chosen Moderator, and Rev. Jonathan Osgood, Scribe. After prayer, 
the Council adjourned to the next morning, at 6 o'clock. At the meet- 
ing of the Council, the next day, the " candidate exhibited a confes- 
sion of his faith ;" and many questions were asked, to which he gave 



HISTORY OF WINCIIENDON. 325 

satisfactory answers. Motioned and seconded to see if the Council were 
ready to proceed to the ordination of Mr. Levi Pilisbury. Voted in 
the affirmative. 

" Voted that the Rev. Mr. dishing give the Charge ; Lev. Mr. Lee, the 
Ordaining Prayer ; the Rev. Mr. Osgood give the Right Hand of Fellowship ; 
the Rev. Mr. Barton make the Introductory Prayer ; and the Rev. Mr. Will- 
iams the Concluding Prayer; and that the Rev. Mr. Aiken preach the ser- 
mon. N. B Every part of the solemnities of the ordination, was performed 
to the great satisfaction of the audience, and Mr. Pilisbury was ordained, June 
•24, 1801, according to appointment. Before the Council proceeded to ordi- 
nation, the candidate was received into the Church, before the whole assembly, 
by virtue of-a dismission and recommendation from the Church in Rowley." 

Just previous to Mr. Pillsbury's settlement, on the 13th of April, 
1801, the Church voted " that no person shall in future be admitted by 
the Church upon the principles of what is commonly called the half- 
way Covenant." This was in accordance with the views of the new 
minister, and the prevailing sentiment of the time. However, these 
quasi members were permitted, if they were so disposed, to come into full 
communion, and some availed themselves of the privilege. 

The condition of the Church, in relation to spiritual things, must have 
been trying to the heart of the young minister. Owing to the admission 
t>f members on the half-way plan, or the laxness of the former minis- 
ter's views, or neglect of discipline, or all these causes combined, the 
Church was in a lamentable state, and years passed away before it be- 
came united and strong. It is not needful to enter at any length, in- 
to the details of difficulties and heart-burnings that have long been sleep- 
ing in the quiet of the grave, but a glance at the situation seems to be 
desirable. 

After disposing of the case of Mr. Brown, measures were taken to 
It ring several members who had held aloof from the Lord's Table, back 
to hearty fellowship with the Church ; and in several cases, the result 
was a restoration of harmony. In other instances, the Records arc 
marred with the recital of violation of covenant obligations and of the 
commandments of God. Different persons were dealt with, and some 
were expelled on account of intemperance, and of violations of the sev- 
enth commandment. These measures w T ere proof of vigorous spiritual 
life, which sloughed off the dead and decaying parts of the body. By 
taking care in admitting new members, the Church became really much 



o26 HISTORY OF V.'INCHENBON. 

stronger, in the course of years, though there was a decrease in the 
membership. 

At the time of Mr. Pillsbury's settlement, there were about eleven 
hundred people in Winchendon, and the great mass of them were in re- 
al or nominal connection with the First Society. A Methodist and a 
Baptist Church had already been formed, but only a part of their mem- 
bers resided within the limits of the toAvn. No means of ascertaining the 
precise number of members of the First Church, in 1801, can be found. 
On the 51st page of the Records, it is written as follows : " June 1st, 
1810, 55 males, 75 females, total, 130." There is a full list of the 
members of the church, extending down to 1819, on pages 50-58, and 
48, and it is supposed that this list comprises all those in the church 
when Mr. Pillsbury was settled, and all who were received during his 
ministry. But this is not certain. There is no way of determining 
when the list was made out. The list contains 159 names, as having 
united previous to 1810 ; but at that date there were only 130 mem- 
bers. Of these 159, 38 are marked dead, 35 removed, 3 excommu- 
nicated, and 4 have a line drawn across their names, leaving but 79 
names. But as there were 130 members in 1810, it is evident that 
some of the 159 were not marked as deceased, removed, etc., until af- 
ter 1810, so that it is impossible to learn who were members when Mr. 
Pillsbury came. Of the 159 in the list up to 1810, 35 were received 
by Mr. Pillsbury, leaving 124 who must have joined previous to 1801. 

Another detached entry in the Record reads as follows : " In 1815, 
May 20, 107 members belonged to this church, and 6 received within 
a year; 40 males and 67 females." The admissions during his min- 
istry are given below. 





rtop. 


LETTER. 








[n 1802, 


12, 




11. 


In 1812, 


- - 


_ o. 


" 1804, 


3, 




1. 


" 1813, 


- - 


7. 


" 1805, 


2, 




4. 


" 1814, 


- - 


- 9, 


" 1806, 


4. 






" 1815, 


- - 




" 1807, 


4. 






" 1816, 


- - 




" 1810*, 


-: 


10 




« 1817, 


- - 


- 1. 


" 1811, 


- " - 


4. 




" 1819, 


-- - 


- 9. 



The whole number is eighty-nine, about five annually. 

The Church was drained by frequent removals to the Baptist and 

*From this date no distinction is made as to the mode of becoming a member.- 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 327 

Methodist Churches, which were now in active operation. In addition, 
by removals to other Congregational 'Churches, and by deaths, the 
number was kept from increasing. 

DEATH OP MR. PILLSBURY. 

His ministry was suddenly closed by his decease, on the 5th of April, 
1819, after five days sickness, of bilious colic. He was forty-eight 
years of age, in full strength and activity, and increasing in influence. 
The efforts to coerce his political action had ceased, and entire harmo- 
ny prevailed in the Church. " His death-bed scene was calm and se- 
rene, and being asked what directions he wished to leave in relation 
to his family, he replied, ' Follow the leadings of Providence.' " The 
universal testimony of those who remember him is, that he was a faith- 
ful Christian minister, and a plain preacher of the evangelical truths 
of the Bible. His ministry came in time to save the .Church from the 
experience of many others in the Commonwealth, which lapsed into 
some form of Unitarianism. Since his time, there has been no ques- 
tion about the adherence of the great body of the Church and congre- 
gation to the religious views of the early settlers of the town. His 
successors in the ministry have all been firm believers in the same sys- 
tem, and earnest preachers of the Gospel. 

It is said by aged people, that Mr. Pillsbury became increasingly 
devoted to his work, and that his ministrations during the winter pre- 
ceding his death, were marked by growing spirituality ; and it is the 
general conviction of those who remember the great revival which made 
the beginning of his successor's ministry so memorable, that the foun- 
dation of that work of grace was then laid. He enjoyed the confi- 
dence of the Church, and the respect of the community to the last, 
and his memory has been revered to the present time. He was buried 
near the centre of the old grave-yard, where an elegant monument has 
been recently erected by his children, in place of a plainer one that 
was set up not long after his decease. 

An incident in his life should be noted, because it evinces his inde- 
pendence of character, while it brings into view the intermeddling spirit 
of " Associations" at the time. In the Records is the following, under 
date " Dec. 19, 1804. The Westminster Association having long, and 
contrary to my wish, meddled with our Church discipline, I requested 
my relation or connection with them to be removed." It seems that 



B28 -HISTORY OT ' WnvCHESDON. 

this bo'dy of ministers had been in the habit of considering cases of dis- 
cipline brought before them by individuals, and of sending their advice 
to the Churches. In the case of a member of the Winchendon Church, 
they heard witnesses, and reviewed the conduct of Mr. Pillsbury and 
the Church. As they had no more right to do this than an association 
of deacons or superintendents of Sabbath Schools, he very properly 
denied their jurisdiction, arid withdrew from them. On the "14th of 
June, 1806, " a number of ministers in the County of Worcester, met 
at the Rev. Samuel Austin's, in the town of Worcester, for the pur- 
pose of forming into an Association, to be called the Worcester Asso- 
ciation ; and agreed to meet three times in a year." Mr. Pillsbury 
became a member of this Association, which has always been charac- 
terized by its strict adherence to early Congregational usages. 

It may be said, in conclusion, that Mr. Pillsbury has descendants 
quite numerous and very respectable, in this and neighboring towns. 

The formal action of the Church in relation to the decease of Mr. 
Pillsbury, is here inserted 'by way of appendix to the account of his 
ministry : 

"Tuesday, April 6, -1819. At' a meeting of the Church at the meeting- 
house, it was voted to choose a standing Moderator, to preside at meetings 
during the vacancy occasioned by the death of our Rev. Pastor ; also, an As- 
sistant Moderator and Clerk. Chose for these officers respectively, Rev. John 
Sabin, of Fitzwilliam, Dea. Desire Tolman, and Daniel Henshaw, Esq." [This 
was the day after the Pastor's decease. The meeting adjourned to Thurs- 
day, the 8th, at the school-chouse, at 10 o'clock, A. M. Then met, and] 
" made arrangements for. proceeding at the funeral of our late Pastor." On 
the 1st of May, the Church voted to " appoint a Fast on the third Thursday 
in May, instant." The Church also voted "that the town be respectfully in- 
vited to unite with the Church in the fast ; arid to invite the neighboring min- 
isters to unite with them." 

On account of Probate Court, the Fast was held on the first Thurs- 
day in June. Thus respectfully and reverently did the Church and 
the Town unite in paying funeral honors to the departed, and in seek- 
ing divine direction, with reference to a future minister. 

REV. ELAM CLARK. 

The efforts of the town to induce Mr. Elam Clark to become their 
minister, have been related in another connection. The fact that he 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 

was for a time the most popular man that ever lived in the place, makes 
it proper to refer to him aga^n. The vote in his favor was as strong 
in the Church as in the Parish. At a meeting held on the 26th of 
September, it was voted " to choose a committee of five to join the 
town's committee, to confer with Mr. Elam Clark concerning his preach- 
ing in this town, and with reference to his settlement. Chose Dea. 
Desire Tolman, Mr. Ezra Hyde, Daniel Henshaw, Mr. Hanania-h Whit- 
ney and Col. Jacob B. Woodbury." Next day met again, and voted 
" by ballot, and chose unanimously, Mr. Elam Clark to be Pastor of 
this Church." After considering, Mr. Clark declined. On the 6th 
of March, 1820, the call was renewed, with but one dissenting vote, 
out of twenty-six. This call was also declined ; but the people found 
it hard to abandon the hope of obtaining him for their Pastor. He 
was a man of remarkable gifts to win popular favor and esteem. The 
people hung upon his lips m public, and were pleased greatly with him 
in private. A manuscript sermon of his fails to reveal the secret of 
his power. It has matter emough to keep attention awake, and "not 
enough to fatigue a common audience. The style is neat and clear, 
without being ornate or forcible. Ornament and illustration arc judis- 
ciously employed, but the discourse does not grasp the mind and hold it 
by the power of intense thought or passion. Much was due, doubtless, to 
a pleasing person, a modulated voice and fine elocution. Add to these 
qualities, amiability of disposition, an interest in'feis hearers, and une- 
tion, and wo probably have the secret of his popularity. But however 
accounted for, there is no question that he completely captivated all 
classes of the people, old as well as young. Says Dr. Whiton : " the 
people were enthusiastically attached" to him. <He says farther, in 
reference to Mr. Clark's second call : " he unexpectedly and strangely 
declined again. It was probably happy for them that he did, as he 
was a man of an extremely nervous temperament, and was not success- 
ful in other places. He deceased some years ago, about 1834." It 
may be added that after leaving this place, he was married ; that he 
awakened an extraordinary interest in himself wherever he preached.; 
and that he never remained long in a place. The reason given by 
class-mates and friends was, that whenever he was obliged to engage 
in intellectual labor, his faculties seemed to be paralyzed. He had 
ability, taste, judgment, a desire to do good ; and when his mind was 
entirely free from constraint, he could write with ease. As soon how- 



330 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 

ever as he was confronted with the dread fact that a discourse must 
be ready at a certain time, he grew restive, made an effort to write, 
became discouraged) and as a consequence, sad and mortified. It is 
probable that in some other calling, he would have fulfilled the high 
hopes of partial friends. According to Mr. Hyde, he had two calls 
at Tiverton, R. I., as in Winchendon. He was settled over a Church 
in Providence, about a year, and was then dismissed at his own request. 
He kept school for a while. Afterwards he resided at Suffield, Conn., 
with a weathy farmer, whose daughter he had married. He died of 
cancer. 

THE NEW MINISTER. 

Among other candidates was a Mr. Becket of Peterborough, and Rev. 
Caleb Burge, a man of more than average ability. The Rev. Eber L. 
Clark came to Winchendon, May 27, 1820, (being then settled as a 
minister in Granby, Conn.) and continued to supply the pulpit till in- 
vited to settle. At a meeting of the Church, on the 31st of July, to 
see " whether they would choose llev. Eber L. Clark as their Pastor, 
it was voted to take the question by yeas and nays. The vote was then 
taken, and the whole, being twenty-seven, were in the affirmative, and 
accordingly the Rev. Eber L. Clark was declared unanimously elected. 

1820, October 13, Mr. Clark was installed by an Ecclesiastical Coun- 
cil, composed ministerially as follows : the names of delegates being 
omitted. 

Church in Ashburnham, Rev. John Gushing. 

*' Gardner, " Jonathan Osgood. 

" Templeton, " Charles Wellington. 

" Royalston, " Kbenozer Perkins. 

' ; Rindge, " Seta Payson, D. D. 

' ; Antrim, " John M. Whiton. 

" Leicester, " John Nelson. 

" Worthington, " Jonathan L. Pomroy. 

" East Windsor, " . Thomas Robbins. 

A note in the Church Records, probably by the hand of Mr. Clark, 
may claim a place here for the sake of the information it gives. 

" The Rev. Eber L. Clark was born at Mansfield, Conn, March 23, 1785 ; 
was graduated at Williams College, Sept. 1811 ; was licensed to preach the 
Gospel, l^eb'y, 1812 ; was ordained, Sept. 24th of the same year, Pastor of the 
First Church of Christ in Chatham, Con.; was dismissed August 13th, 181o : — • 



history of winciiendon, 831 

was installed Pastor of the Church in Granby, Turkey Hills Society, Con., 
July C, 181G; was dismissed again, July 5th, 1820; and installed in Win- 
chendon, October 18th of the same year. His salary, SG0O, and his settle- 
ment $400. After being destitute of a minister about 18 months, and after 
making several unsuccessful attempts to settle another. 

The said Mr. Clark, was, soon after his installation, admitted a member of 
said Church, by vote of the same, on the recommendation of the mutual 
Ecclesiastical Council which dismissed him from his charge in Granby, Conn. 
As he was not admitted a member of the Church in Granby otherwise than 
being installed as Pastor over it, and as the Council which dismissed him from 
said Church was mutual, and the general recommendation which they gave of 
him an act in some sense of the Church herself, no other recommendation was 
thought necessaiy." 

Mr. Clark's settlement was the last in regard to which the Town as 
a Parish took concurrent action. The Sermon was by Rev. Thomas 
Bobbins, afterwards D. D., from the text, Psalm 122, vs. 3, 4, 5. 
The discourse grew directly out of the text, and related to the Church, 
or Ecclesiastical Government. It was arranged under three heads : 

I. Its Union. 

II. Its Worship. And} 

III. Its Government. 

The sermon evinces ability and familiar knowledge of Church history. 

At the time of Mr. Clark's entrance upon his pastoral labors, the 
congregation was large. The population of the town ..was 1263, a large 
majority of whom were regular or occasional attendants on his ministry. 
The Baptist Church wa3 in one corner of the town, and was small. The 
Methodist Church was in another corner, and far from numerous. There 
were not twenty families in the three villages where more than two-thirds 
of the whole population now reside-. The parish extended over a large 
territory, several families living as far as four, and some more than five 
miles distant from the Common. 

On the 4th of January, 1822, Samuel Prentiss, Esq. was chosen Dea- 
con in place of Amos Hey wood resigned. On the 1st of March, it was 
voted to " introduce Dr. Samuel Worcester's Selection of Hymns to be 
sung occasionally in addition to Watts' Psalms and Hymns." On the 
1st of November, xdiose Br. Paul Raymond and Br. Reuben Hyde as 
Deacons of the Church. 

When Mr. Clark began his ministry, the Church was not large in pro* 



■ 332 HISTORY (JF WINCHENDO'N. 

portion to the congregation, but there was an awakened interest in re- 
ligious things. The influence of Mr. Pillsbury's life and prayers, was 
i felt during the vacancy, and after the settlement of the new minister, 
and soon began to manifest itself -more plainly. Besides, the preaching 
of Mr. Clark was fitted to produce a deep impression. He was a man 
of decided power in the pulpit. He was tall, had a powerful voice, and 
a positive manner. His sermons contained considerable thought, and 
■■were full of weighty, evangelical truth. The effect was soon manifest ; 
indeed the work of conversion had -already begun. Some who had been 
awakened to a sense of religious things in the latter part of Mr. PihV 
■bury's ministry, were now ready to unite with the Church, and six were 
received soon after the installation of Mr. Clark. During the next year, 
five were received by profession, and one by letter. In the meantime, 
the religious interest had spread through the town, and become almost 
universal. Impressions were made whioh have lasted to this time, and 
will doubtless remain through all the future. 

But the year 1822 was probably the most distinguished in all the 
•history of the town, for attention to the concerns of the <soul. At the 
-several seasons of communion, in that year, eighty-foUr were received 
into the Church on confession of their faith in Christ. Forty of these 
were admitted at one time, on the 11th of September. A private let- 
ter from one of Mr. Clark's sons says : " Though a very small boy at 
the time of their admission, I remember the scene as vividly as if it were 
only yesterday. I remember the features of many of them, (some still 
living-=-lS67,) as they appeared standing through -all the aisles of the 
old Church." The interest was so absorbing that afternoon and evening 
meetings were held right on through the warm season of the year— 
through haying and bar vesting— and were well attended. One man of 
large business -—Mi'. Phinehas Whitney,— and perhaps others, had an 
' understanding with his Workmen, that their wages would go on white 
they >were at meeting. 

This season of special attention to religious things, was drawn out into 
the .next two succeeding years. In 1823, there were twenty-one ad- 
missions to the Church ; and in 1824, fifteen, besides four by letter from 
other Churches ; making one hundred and twenty-four in the space of 
about three years. From that date there were admissions from time to 
time. In 1831, there were thirteen, and the next year, ten. The 



HISTORY OF WINCHENLON. 



wfcble number received into communion of the Church during his pas- 
torate was as follows : 



In 1820, 6. 


In 


1825, 


3. 


In 


1831, 


13 


1821, 6. 




1826, 


1. 




1832, 


11 


1822, 84. 




1827, 


5. 




1833, 


7. 


1823, 21. 




1828, 


5. 




1834, 


2. 


1824,} 19. 




1829, 


2. 




1835. 


1. 



Eighteen of this number were received from other Churches, leaving 
one hundred and sixty-eight who were admitted as new converts, or elev- 
en per annum, on the average. Taking the whole number, the aver- 
age was thirteen. 

It would serve no useful purpose to call up from the grave, the trou- 
bles which marred the good work of grace, or disturbed the peace of 
the minister. Some did not walk worthy of their profession, and in some 
cases, the action of the Church might have been hasty. But a great 
and good work Avas wrought, whose effects have been felt to this day. 
In connection with what Avas done in the Baptist and Methodist Soci-- 
eties, it may be said that the town, to a large extent, experienced a mor- 
al and spiritual renovation. After an uncommonly successful pastorate 
of nearly fifteen years, dating from his first sermon, he asked a dismis- 
sion in the following note, dated 

" Winciiendon, January 2, 1835. 

I hereby request that I may be dismissed from my pastoral charge in this 
place, believing the time has com? when my dismission is expedient both for 
me and for the people, — that another minister can be more useful here, and 
that I can be more useful in some other part of the Gospel vineyard. 

Praying that grace, mercy and peace may be multiplied to you abundantly, 
through our Lord Jesus Christ, I subscribe myself yours in the faith and fel- 
lowship of the Gospel. Eber L. Clark." 

The same day, the Church voted to comply with his request, and a 
committee was chosen to unite with him in calling a Council. In due 
time, the Council met, and he was honorably dismissed. A few addi- 
tional facts will be interesting to some here who yet live to remember 
him with grateful affection. According to a note from his son, Julius 
L. Clark, Esq., Chief Clerk in the State Auditor's office, he was born 
in 1786, instead oT 1785, as stated on a former page. He " fitted for 
College under the instruction of the late Rev. Dr. Jennings, of Dalton, 
Mass., to which place he removed with his parents in early childhood." 



334 HISTOR? OF WINCHENDON. 

After leaving College, in 1811, ho immediately commenced his " theo- 
logical studies with Rev. Mr. Hinsdale of Hinsdale, and was licensed 
in the following year by the Berkshire Association." His first settle- 
ment was in Chatham, Conn., in that part now called Portland. In 
about three yeara ho was dismissed " at his own request, and for rea- 
sons wholly his own. 1 ' In G ranby he " maintained a pleasant and use- 
ful ministry o'' six years." S > m after his ordination, in 1812, he '* mar- 
ried Mary, daughter of Dea. Charles Starkweather, of Worthington, 
Mass. She died in Winchendon, in 1832." His ministry of fifteen 
years in this place, has already been described. " Then followed a 
pastorate of three years at Berlin, Mass., terminating in accordance 
with his own wish and request, lie wa3 immediately installed at Rich- 
mond, Mass., where for fifteen years he continued the beloved and hon- 
ored pastor of an affectionate congregation. In 1853, he became the 
pastor of the Church in Washington, Mass., a relation which he sus- 
tained for four years, or until his death ; his aggregate ministry cov- 
ering a period of forty-six years." His second wife whom he married 
not far from the time of his removal from Winchendon, was Sarah Law- 
rence, of Norfolk, Conn., who survived him. He had six children, three 
of whom, the two oldest, and the youngcst,*are now — 1808 — living. 
Six weeks previous to his own decease, he was called to officiate at 
the funeral of a " dear brother in the ministry," Rev. C. H. Norton, 
at North Beeket, "little dreaming that his own lifeless form would so 
soon rest upon the same altar, and his funeral discourse be so shortly 
delivered from the same pulpit. The day was one of unusual inclem- 
ency, and from the effects of his exposure, he fell into a rapid decline, 
gently and sweetly falling asleep in Jesus. His funeral sermon was 
preached by the Rev. Dr. Todd, of Pittsfield, from John 3 : 2. At the 
conclusion of these obsequies, his earthly remains were removed to Rich- 
mond, for interment." 

The following passages are taken from the funeral discourse by Dr. 
Todd : 

" His character was every way symmetrical, and his talents highly respect- 
able. Indeed, though I have often heard his public performances, I never 
saw a failure, and never heard him preach a poor sermon. I have often heard . 
others make the same remark, lie was a modest, unassuming man, but an 
earnest and faithful preacher. I can account for bis multiplied removals only 
on the supposition that he was too meek to contend with difficulties. He was 



HISTORY OF WINCIIENDON. 335 

diffident to a fault, when the day demands that the ainistcrs of Grod shall not 
be like reeds shaken by the wind. Bat all this modesty was based upon ' the 
meek and quiet spirit, which in the sight of the Lord, is of great price.' I 
have seldom known a public man who teemed to me so free from envy and 
jealousy. It never seemed to trouble him that others had higher seats in the 
synagogue or at the feast. On the contrary, he rejoiced at every measure of 
usefulness that others could fdl. I never heard him make an envious or jeal- 
ous or a severe remark about any one. * * * To those who have known 
Br. Clark long as T have, I need not say that he was an affectionate husband, 
and a most kind and considerate father. His house was such as his brethren 
loved to visit. * * * Mr. Clark was a good man. We loved to hear 
him pray in our associations and at our ordinations. We have every reason 
to feel that he walked with God. * * * After having served his o;encr- 
ation for forty-five years as a minister of Jesus Christ, his sun gradually went 
down, but the sky was clear, and if there was anything in the shape of clouds, 
they were lined with silver and coated with gold. ''■' * * We can say of 
him what is a great thing to say of any man, that he lived and died by the 
grace of God, at the full age of three-score and ten, and has gone down to 
the grave without reproach, with an unsullied reputation, and with the confi- 
dence and respect of all who knew him." 

Till: MINISTRY OF REV. DANIEL O. MORTON. 

After hearing various ministers during the Bpring and summer, the 
Church, on the 9th of December, 1835, voted and " chose (unanimous- 
ly) the Rev. Daniel 0. Morton as Pastor." He was then settled in 
Springfield, Vt., where his people desired to retain him. Extra cfiorts 
were necessary to induce him to remove. On the 17th of January, 
183G, the Church chose Rev. Lemuel P. Pates, of Templcton, to rep- 
resent their case " before the Ecclesiastical Council to be convened at 
Springfield, in reference to the dismission of Mr. Morton. Deacons 
Hyde and Raymond were chosen a committee to make a statement to 
Mr. Pates." Mr. Morton was dismissed by the Council, and accept- 
ed the invitation to come hither. He was settled on the 2d of March. 
The proceedings of the Council will not be given, as the date is too re- 
cent to have the smack of antiquity. The public services were as fol- 
lows : 

" Invocation and Reading the Scriptures, by Rev. George Goodyear, Ash- 
burnham ; Introductory Prayer, Rev. Sumner Lincoln, Gardner; Sermon, 
Rev. Cyrus Mann, Westminster; Consecratiag Prayer, Rev. Ebenezer Per- 



336 HISTORY OF WISCHENDON. 

kins, Royals ton ; Charge to the Pastor, Rev. Amos W. Burnham, Rindge ; 
Right Hand, Rev. Alexander Lovell, Phlllipston ; Address to the People, 
Rev. Lemuel P. Bates, Templeton ; Concluding Prayer, Rev. Giles Lyman, 
Jeffrey." 

The congregation was still quite large at the time of Mr. Morton's 
settlement. The meeting-house was well filled, below and in the gal- 
lery, on pleasant Sabbaths. The members of the Church, numbered 
171, which was 15 less than were added in the pastorate of his prede- 
cessor, showing that the removals by death and otherwise, had been 
quite numerous. The two first years of Mr. Morton's labors here re- 
sulted in large accessions to the Church. He was a man much above 
mediocrity both in regard to his general abilities, and his gifts as a pub- - 
ilc speaker. He held the " pen of a ready writer," and was prompt 
in the fulfillment of every duty. He was what is sometimes styled a 
"revival preacher," and delighted in scenes of religious awakening.. 
He was active in the use of all those allowable measures which charac- 
terized the era of " protracted meetings," when religious services were • 
held four or five days in succession. He was a man of warm heart, of 
kindly feeling toward all, and of a persuasive tongue ; and withal, felt' 
a; deep intereset in the welfare, temporal and spiritual, of the people of 
his charge. Besides preaching on the Sabbath, and in school-houses, 
he performed Imuch labor from Jiouse to house. In the first year of 
his pastorate here, forty-six were added to the Churchy and in 1836, , 
sixty-one. In the next three years^five, five, and seven,, respectively. 
The whole number in six years, was one hundred and twenty-four, or 
about twenty per annum. The Church was larger the second year of 
his ministry^ than ever before or since, there being about two hundred 
and seventy-£ve members. .Though a faithful and discriminating preach- 
er, he was perhaps too urgent in pressing persons feeling an interest 
in religion, to > unite with the Church. Probably some of the trouble 
which he experienced here, and some of the defections among those 
received in his time grew out of this fact. But after making due al- 
lowance, it is most certain that his labors here were abundant, and were 
crowned with the blessing of God. 

After a settlement of rather more than five years, Mr. Morton asked 
a dismission, which was effected by a mutual Council, on the 29th of 
June, 1841. The Council spoke of him as an " able, faithful and 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 337 

useful servant of Christ," who had " labored with more than usual 
success." 

After leaving here, he was settled at Bristol, N. H., in 1842, where 
lie closed his ministry and his life, on Thursday, March 25, 1852. 

He was the author of the Life of the Rev. Levi Parsons, one of 
the early Missionaries of the American Board, and of other works, be- 
sides single discourses, of considerable literary merit. Farther partic- 
ulars would be given here, were it not that an extended notice of him 
may be found in the History of Shoreham, Vt., the place of his first 
settlement, and also in a sermon by Dr. Bouton, and an obituary ad- 
dress, by Prof. Eli B. Smith, delivered at his funeral, and both pub- 
lished in the same pamphlet. These gentlemen, who knew him well, 
speak of him in the most affectionate and appreciative terms, the latter 
closing his remarks in these words; " thus died a jjoqd man, full of the 
Holy Ghost and of faith." 

THE ERA OP SUPPLIES. 

There was an interval of about five years before the settlement of an- 
other minister, but the pulpit was filled almost without interruption, by 
stated or occasional supplies. In 1842, March 21, the Church invited 
Rev. Edwin Leigh to become its pastor. He was in the Parish about 
two years, though he declined a settlement. Mr. Shedd, Principal of 
the Appleton Academy, at New Ipswich, preached on several occasions. 
Rev. Robert W. Fuller did good service, and was highly esteemed. 
From May till November, 1843, Mr. Abijah P. Marvin, a recent 
graduate of Yale Theological Seminary, supplied the pulpit, while that 
portion of the parish living in the Village and the north part of the town? 
were building a sanctuary, and preparing to found a new Church. At 
this time the house was quite well filled though not crowded. The Meth- 
odist Church had been established in the Village ten or twelve years, 
and the congregation was respectable in number. Many had withdrawn 
from the congregation at the Centre, on account of the difficulties about 
ministers, and in Church discipline, some of whom never were stated 
attendants on public worship at any place afterwards. Perhaps two 
hundred and fifty or three hundred, on pleasant Sabbaths, were found 
in the old meeting-house. 

Rev. Benjamin Rice was acting pastor, though not formally in- 
stalled, from the latter part of the year 1843, till his decease in 1846. 



330 HISTORY OP WINCHENDON. 

He was born in Sturbridge, May 9, 1784. and was sixty-throe years of 
age at the time of his death, which occurred on the 12th of July, 1847. 
lie was a graduate of Brown University, lie had been settled in Sken- 
eateles, N. Y., South Deerfield, Mass., and New Gloucester, and Bux- 
ton, Me. As a man of sense, piety, industry and gentle disposition, he 
was useful in the ministry. His wife was Lucy, daughterof Oapt. Phiii- 
ehas Whitney, who still survives ; and his children are lion. William W. 
Rice, ot* Worcester, Charles J. Rice, Esq., of Winchendon, and Mrs. 
Lucy Anna, wife of Rev. Milan II. Hitchcock, formerly missionary to 
Ceylon. During these five years, but live persons were admitted by 
profession : that is, three in 1842, and two in 18 4o. From this last 
date, there were no admissions till 1850 ; but the losses were great. 
On the 28th of November, 184o, sixty-five members were dismissed, 
with recommendatMfc, to form the North Congregational Church. Be- 
sides, many on the Church roll were absent from town. After this time, 
the congregation was much reduced, and the Church labored under 
discouragement, as many believed that it would be difficult, if not im- 
possible, to sustain two Churches not more than a mile apart. 

LATER MINISTERS. 

- However, the Church made commendable exertions to sustain the 
institutions of the Gospel. On the 19th of November, 184(5, the llcv. 
Malachi BULLA&D was settled by ordination services. He labored faith- 
fully till his removal by death in the spring of 1S49. During weeks 
of decline his soul was inspired with profound peace and submission, 
and animated with joyful hope. His will seemed lost in Christ. He 
was esteemed by his people, and his ministerial brethren, who lament- 
ed his early removal from this society. The sermon at his funeral was 
preached by the writer. His remains were taken to Medway. 

Jhe Rev. Jonx Storks was installed August 22, 1840, and continued 
in his pastorate nearly five years, when he was suddenly cut off at the 
age of fifty-two. The following entry was made in the Church Rec- 
ords, May 8, 1852. 

•' Rev. John Storrs, Pastor of this Church, after a short but distressing sick- 
ness, was removed by death from an affectionate Church, in the midst of his 
labors and usefulness, much respected and highly prized, to occupy, as we 
confidently believe, a higher place in the presence of his Saviour, God, aged 52." 



HISTORY OF WINCIIENDON. 339 

The author's respect and affection for Mr. Storrs, are expressed in 
a funeral sermon, which was published at the time. It contains the main 
facts of his useful life, and may be found by any desiring to see it, for 
information, in the library of Brown University, of which he was a grad- 
uate. In a word, it may be said, that he wa3 a thoroughly sincere and 
godly man ; devoted to his family, and his people, and his God ; of 
tender sensibilities and literary tastes, and full of a generous public spir- 
it. His wife has carried out his designs in the education of his children, 
who are their crown of honor. 

During the pastorate of Mr. Storrs, the ancient Church, erected in 
1792, was taken down, and the materials were used in building a house 
of smaller dimensions. Not only were the timbers sound, but the clap- 
boards, split fifty year3 before, were better than could be obtained new. 
The house was placed a little west by north of the old site. 

The pulpit was supplied by several ministers until the settlement of 
Rev. Benjamin P. Clarke, on the 24th of October, 1855. After a 
ministry of nearly ten years, useful and harmonious on the whole, though 
under discouraging circumstances, he was honorably dismissed by a 
mutual Council in April, 1865. The constant tendency of the popu- 
lation to the villages weakened the society from year to year. There 
were no admissions from 1843 to 1849. In Mr. Storrs' time, thirteen 
were received, besides some others, including his own children, who 
united with Churches in other towns to which they removed. In the 
next eight years, twelve were admitted. Several members of this Church, 
excellent young men, fought against the rebellion, and died in the ser- 
vice of their country. Mr. Clarke now resides at Wellesley, Mass., still 
active after a half-century of faithful service in his Master's cause. 

Different ministers officiated until May, 1867, when Rev. Milan H. 
Hitchcock became acting pastor, besides taking charge of the High 
School in the Village. By his indefatigable efforts, the congregation 
was somewhat enlarged, and eleven were gathered into the Church, in 
1867. Since the present year came in, five have been added, making 
sixteen, on profession. 

The Deacons of this Church have been Richard Day, Abel Wilder, 
Moses Hale, Samuel Prentiss, Levi Moor, Amos Heywood, Israel WhL 
ton, Desire Tolman, George Coffin, Samuel Prentiss, Jr, Reuben Hyde, 
Paul Raymond, John Cutter, Levi Prentiss, and George Cummings. 



340 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 

2. THE BAPTIST CHURCH IN NEW BOSTON. 

Searching for the origin of a Church is sometimes like looking for the 
source of a river in the mountain. You think it is found, when farther 
survey reveals a little stream which comes from a spring still higher. 
Dr. Whiton thought the Baptist Church Was not organized previous to 
the settlement of Mr. Pillsbury in 1801. At that time, he says : 

" The great mass of the people were still of the Congregational denomina- 
tion. A very few individuals were Methodists, and a very few Baptists ; but 
probably more than nine-tenths were Congregationalists. There had been a 
very little occasional Baptist preaching from a date perhaps as early as 1793, 
by Elder Moses Kinney of Royalston. At what time a Baptist Church was 
organized, I cannot state. It was probably subsequent to the ordination of 
Mr. Pillsbury." 

Mr. Hyde, in 1848, said : " about fifty years ago." This is accor- 
ding to the fact. The first mention of Baptists in the Town Records, 
is under date of February 10, 1783, when there was an article in the 
warrant " to see if the town will vote to exempt those persons from pay- 
ing taxes to the settled minister in the Town, who attend Baptist or 
Friends meetings." The article was passed over, but came up again 
next March, when it was voted to " submit the article to the judgment 
of the Assessors." They probably laid no tax on the parties concerned. 
There was one man, Jeremiah Stuart, who sometimes claimed to be a 
Friend or Quaker. Whether the meetings which the Baptists attend- 
ed, were held in this town, or near the border, is not certain. If they 
went out of town to find a place of worship, they might have thought 
it unfair to be obliged to help support a. service which they did not at- 
tend. The point was before the town again in March, 1800, when 
money was to be raised for paying damages to Rev. Mr. Brown. " Those 
persons who were of the denomination of Baptists or Methodists" asked 
for exemption from tax to pay the bill. The matter was left with the 
Assessors, who, of course, declined the responsibility of laying the tax. 

From the above citations it is a fair inference that there was Bap- 
tist preaching in this vicinity as early as 1783. It might have been 
sometimes in Royalston, and sometimes in Winchendon, or Templeton. 
The Church was composed of members belonging to these towns, and 
also Fitzwilliam. An effort was made to form a new town, by taking por- 
tions from three or four, as Winchendon, Royalston, Templeton, and 



HISTORY OP WINCHENDON. 341 

perhaps Phillipston, with New Boston as the centre, in 1794. This was 
always the centre of the Baptist Society. Meetings were held at the 
house of Mr. John Whitmore, in the edge of Royalston ; and sometimes 
in his barn. They were held also in the house of Mr. Thomas Wyman, 
just across the road from the late Mr. Silas Wyman's. The Church 
was finally organized in the house of Mr. Whitmore, in the year 1798. 
Among the preachers, were Messrs. Moses and Aaron Kinney, and 
Ephraim Whitney. Among the members, besides Mr. Whitmore, and 
perhaps Mr. Wyman, were John Bosworth and his Wife, Avho was the 
first person born in this town, and Thornton Barrett. One of the ear- 
liest deacons was Asa Nourse, who lived about half way from the meet- 
ing-house to the Sibley mill. His house was the resort of the elders 
and brethren whenever the meetings were held in his neighborhood. 
In the words of his son, he had " entertained ministers and brethren 
enough to make a man rich if he had been paid." After meeting for 
several years, in private dwellings, they built a 'Society house' as it was 
called, about 1811. It was located where the meeting-house now stands, 
and was used for a school-house. The old building is now a dwelling- 
house, painted dull yellow, a little north of the house of Mr. Daniel Day, 
on the east of the road. 

Elder Samuel Simonds Avas the first stated minister. He was from 
Templeton. His ordination took place, in the society house, in the 
fall of 1816. He was influential in securing the erection of the meet- 
ing-house in 1820. He died in 1837, aged 66. He had six children, 
viz : Stillman, Ephraim, Albert, Frederick, George and Mary. His 
wife's maiden name was Abbott. Mr. Simonds was held in respect by 
the people of the'town generally. At the time of Mr. Pillsbury's death, 
there was a town meeting to make arrangements for the funeral, when 
he was requested to offer prayer, and by vote he was invited to attend 
the funeral with the Congregational clergy of the neighboring Churches. 
Under his ministrations the Baptist Church had a healthy growth. At 
times, there were special manifestations of the Spirit's power in the con- 
version of souls. His name is yet mentioned gratefully by survivors 
who were benefitted by his labors. After his decease, there was preach- 
ing by elder Brown. Elder Jones supplied the pulpit about two years. 
He was followed by Rev. Warren Cooper, who occupied the field two 
or three years, in 1840-2. From that date to 1849, Rev. Andrew 
Dunn was the Pastor. Besides attending to his pastoral duties with 



Z4.2 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 

fidelity, he was very useful as a member of the School Committee. Af- 
ter his removal to the Baptist Church in the Village, Mr. Cooper re- 
turned, and remained several years. He was indefatigable and self- 
sacrificing in procuring the remodeling of the meeting-house, in 1851, 
by which it was greatly improved in appearance and convenience. Of 
late years, the pulpit has been acceptably supplied by alder Fay, of 
Athol, and elder Culvert. The following have been deacons of this 
Church, viz : Asa Nourse, Isaac Stockwell, Joseph Norcross, James 
Norcross. 

3. THE METHODIST CHURCH. 

In preparing the following account of the Methodist Church, the au- 
thor is indebted to the late Mr. Smyrna Greaton, for most of the facts, 
and much of the language used. In making extracts, there is a change 
from the first to the third person. As Mr. Greaton was a leading mem- 
ber of the Society for many years, and held several official relations to the 
Church, at different times, he was qualified to give a correct narrative. 
He begins his manuscript with the heading : " A correct account of the 
rise and progress of the Methodist Episcopal Society in Winchendon." 
According to him, the " first sermon ever delivered in Winchendon, by 
a Methodist preacher, was by Rev. Lorenzo Dow, about the 26th or 
27th of October, 1796." Mr. Dow says in his Journal : " From War- 
wick I went to Orange, and preached in the Presbyterian Meeting-house, 
the clergyman having left town. Being this day nineteen years old, I 
addressed myself to the youth." On the 23d of October he says : " I 
preached in Warwick, thence to Petersham and Winchendon, to Fitch- 
burg, and also to Notown ;* thence to Ashbumham." Under date of 
November 21, he says : " I preached in Rindge." Mr. Dow was born 
October 16, 1777 ; consequently the date of lii3 preaching here is Oc- 
tober, 1796. Mr. Greaton continues : 

" As early as 1797, the Methodist preachers commenced their labors in the 
east part of this town, and preached occasionally at the house of Mr. Roger Big- 
elow, which stood a few feet east of where Oliver Estey recently lived ; [that 
is, just east of the No. 5, School-house,] and more recently at the house of 
Mr. Ebenezer Richardson, f and also at Mr. Bartholomew Steams'. £ Mr. 
Bigelow and two daughters, and Mr. Richardson, made a profession of religion, 



* This was a tract at the east of Wachnsctt mountain. 
t Now Henry Wyman. J Now Capt. Levi Stearns. 



HISTORY OP WINCHENDON. 343 

and (if I have been rightly informed,) united with the Society in the north- 
westerly part of Ashburnham. One or two others united with them in the 
course of the nest two years. There was also preaching occasionally by Meth- 
odist ministers, at the northwest part of this town, and the southeast part of 
Fitzwilliam, in the years 1797-8-9, and quite a number professed faith in 
Christ as their present Saviour." 

The Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in this town, in the 
year 1800. It was composed mostly of members from Fitzwilliam and 
the westerly part of Rindge, numbering in all, not more than twelve or 
fourteen members, 

" During this and the succeeding year, some fifteen persons were added to 
the Church by profession. From 1800 to 1807, meetings were held regu- 
larly on the Sabbath, at the house of Mr. Stephen Weston. This year, 1807, 
the Society built their first Meeting-house, on land given by Mr. Weston for 
the purpose. The building committee and trustees were William Poland, Ste- 
phen Weston, Silas Warner, William Crane and Barzillai Martin. The house 
was located some twenty rods northwest from the house now owned and occu- 
pied by Mr. Eleazar P. Weston, and on the road leading from Mr. Weston's to 
Mr. Sumner Brooks'. The house was 36 by 28 feet, with 10 foot posts, with 
door in front. The aisle was four feet wide ; the pulpit was in the rear, and 
elevated about three feet from the floor. The house was furnished with free 
seats." 

NEW MEETING-HOUSE. 

In 1832, this house being too small for the accommodation of the grow 
mg congregation, and being located at the northwest part of the town, 
and in a corner of the territory over which the congregation were scat- 
tered, it was thought expedient to build a house in a more central place. 
After holding several consultations on the subject, the Society conclu- 
ded to build a house in the Village. " A building committee consist- 
ing of Edward Loud, Smyrna Greaton, David Poland, Joseph Stone 
and Simon B. Poland, was appointed, who secured a spot of ground, 
and contracted with Capt. Ephraim Murdock to build a house thereon, 
66 by 41 feet, with a tow T er ; for which they agreed to pay the said 
Murdock, 11900. The house was finished according to contract, and 
was dedicated on the 11th day of October, 1833." The dedication ser- 
mon was by Rev. Orange Scott. Rev. Oliver E. Bosworth assisted in 
the devotional services. This was a convenient house, and well pro- 
portioned, with the exception of the tower, which was according to a 



344 HISTORl Of WESfCHE2rtN)3f. 

style then prevalent. The top resembled a table turned bottom upward-, 
with the four legs projecting into the air. A good bell was placed in 
the tower in 1840 or 1841. 

In 1851, the house being very much out of repair, the society pro- 
ceeded to reconstruct and enlarge it. The audience room was re-fin- 
ished, and a new pulpit and altar were procured. The orchestra was 
erected in the rear of the audience room, and a vestry was fitted up in 
the gallery. Three feet were added to the length of the house, to make 
room for stairs and a recess. The tower was raised twelve feet, and a 
steeple was added, extending about thirty-five feet above the tower. 
The audience room and orchestra were carpeted, and the seats were 
cushioned. The whole expense for these repairs was about 12300. The 
Louse was dedicated on the 2d day of October, 1851. The devotional 
exercises were conducted by Rev. Philander Wallingford, the minis- 
ter then in charge. Rev. Miner Raymond preached the sermon, and 
Rev. A. P. Marvin, by request, delivered an address on the proper care 
of the House of God. 

There were some additions to the Church by profession, from 1801 
to 1823, but the increase in number did not much exceed the decrease 
by deaths and removals. 

" In the fall and winter of 1824-5, there was a good revival of religion in 
the Society, and some twelve or fourteen persons united with the Church. In 
1827 also, several joined by letter and profession. In 2833 a protracted meet- 
ing was held in connection with the dedication of the meeting-house, and a re- 
spectable number were added by profession of their faith. In the fall of 1837 
another protracted meeting was held, which resulted in the conversion of some 
fifteen or twenty persons, most of whom united with the Church, In the win- 
ter of 1842-3, there was a powerful revival of religion in this place, and about 
twenty persons were added to the Church. From that time to the present, 
there have been frequent accessions, both by letter and by profession, but the 
decrease by deaths and removals has sometimes- nearly equaled the increase. 
But on the whole some progress has been made in regard to numbers. In 
1833 the membership did not exceed fifty ; in ISG5 there were one hundred 
and seventy-ooe in full membership, besides seventeen probationers." 

Mr. Greaton continues : 

" Our former records were very imperfect, at best, but were all lost down 
to the year 1837. I have had access to the first and second volumes of Dr. 
Abel Stephens' History of Blethodism in New England, where I fiad the names 



HISTORY OF WINCHEtfDOff. 345 

of the preachers, and whore they were stationed by the Conference, from the 
commencement of Methodism in New England, down to the year 1809, which 
was three years previous to the time when I became a member. From the 
time of the formation of the Society to 1812, (the year that I became a mem- 
ber,) I am indebted to Mrs. Eunice E. Poland for much valuable information. 
She united with the Church in 1801, and is now, — 1805 — the senior member 
of the Church, by eleven years. My name appears nest on the Records, bear- 
ing date March, 1812. The Records now show that all of the former mem- 
bers of the Church have passed away by death or removals, (with the two ex- 
ceptions above named,) down to 182-1. In this and the succeeding year, we 
find an addition of ten or twelve members, five of whom are still living in this 
town, and are members of the Church. Of those who were members when 
the present house of worship was first occupied in 1833, only twelve members 
remain, all others having been removed by death or otherwise." 

THE SABBATH SCHOOL. 

The first Sabbath School in connection. with, the Methodist Episcopal 
Society, was organized in the summer of 1824. It consisted of about 
twenty scholars, a superintendent and three teachers. " The first ten 
or twelve years, our school was discontinued through the winter, and 
for several years Ave were destitute of a library." A few books were 
occasionally purchased, which " were distributed as presents among 
the children. Some thirty-three or four years ago, one hundred vol- 
umes, (published expressly for Sabbath Schools,) were purchased, and 
our library has been replenished from time to time, till now, in 1865, 
it contains six hundred and thirty volumes." The scholars number 
one hundred and seventy-one. 

NAMES OF THE PREACHERS. 

It Avould be impossible, says Mr. Greaton, " for me to give a correct 
list" of all the Methodist ministers who have preached in this town. 
In the early days of Methodism, it was not unfrequently the case that 
the Presiding Elder transferred preachers from one field to another, 
after three or six months, where it was thought they might be more 
useful. " As new fields were frequently opening, the early preachers 
were often transferred to those new fields of labor, and generally in a 
few weeks, some other persons would be appointed to fill their place. 
Consequently we can obtain from the minutes of the Conference, only 



346 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 



the names of the preachers who were stationed at the meeting of the 
Conference." Here follows the list, from 1796 to 1868, inclusive : 



ministers' names. 



1796. Lorenzo Dow, P. Wager. 

1797. Smyth Weeks. 

1798. Elijah Bachelor. 

1799. John Nichols, D. Browlcy. 

1800. Henry Eames. 

1801. Abncr Wood, Martin Rutter. 

1802. John Gove, Nathan Felch. 

1803. Joshua Crowell, Phin. Cook. 

1804. Thomas Ravlin. 

1805. Wm. Stephens, J. Tinkham. 
1800. Benjamin Hill, Bela Willis. 

1807. Asa Hunt, Elisha Streeter. 

1808. Benj. Hoyt, G. R. Norris. 

1809. David Carr, Robert Arnold. 

1810. Ph. Hunger, Step. Wingate. 

1811. Joel Steele, — — Lewis. 

1812. Thomas W. Tucker. 

1813. E. Streeter, V. R. Osborn. 

1814. A. Stebbins, Benj. Shaw. 

1815. B. Sabin, 8. Winchester. 

1816. Edw. Hyde, L. Bennett. 

1817. L. Bennett, E. Steele. 

1818. Joel McKee, Wm. Wright. 

1819. A Taylor, G. W. Fairbanks. 

1820. Phinehas Crandall. 

1821. E. Dunham, H. Thatcher. 

1822. Barzillai Pierce. 

1823. W. Barstow, Benj. Paine. 

1824. A. Lummus, J. Harrington. 



1825. Asahel Otis. 

1826. J. E. llisley, Hiram Waldon. 

1827. Wm. Nelson, R. Spaulding. 

1828. Henry J. Wooley. 

1829. Enoch Bradley, H. Mayo. 

1830. William Braynard. 

1831. P. Townsend, E. Stephens. 

1832. P. Townsend, Obed Sperry. 

1833. O. E. Bosworth, D. Graves. 

1834. H. Moulton, Philetus Green. 

1 835. Otis Wilder, Thos. Marcy. 
1836-7. Richard Livesey. 
1838-9. Stephen Cushing. 
1840-1. Nathan B. Spaulding. 

1842. George W. Bates. 

1843. John T. Pettee. 

1844. Kinsman Atkinson. 
1845-6. David K. Merrill. 
1847-8. William Gordon. 
1849. Howard C. Dunham. 
1850-1. Philander Wallingford. 
1852-3. Damon Y. Kilgore. 
1854. A. Flagg. 

1855-6. Silas Piper. 
1857-8. William J. Hambleton. 
1859-'60. J. W. P. Jordan. 
1861-2. Thomas B. Treadwell. 
1863-5. Edward S. Best. 
1866. William Pentecost. 



"P. S. Previous to 1836, Winchendon Society belonged to Ashburn- 
ham circuit, which accounts for having two preachers in a year. In 1836, 
we were made a station." 

The following, found in the Town Records, follows properly as an 
appendix to the foregoing account of the Methodist Episcopal Society. 
It is entitled, 

" EBENEZER RICHAUDSOn's LICENSE TO PREACH." 

" This may certify that Ebenezer Richardson has applied to us for liberty 
to preach in our Church, and after examination concerning his gifts, grace 
and usefulness, we judge him a proper person to be licensed, and we accord- 




Ht@Et& G©iagff«gaticnBial Gforaclii. 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 847 

itigly authorize him to preach. Signed in behalf of the Quarterly Conference 
held at Ashburnham. Erastus Otis, Presiding Elder. 

Rindge, July 18th, 1818." 

"This may certify that Ebenezer Richardson, Jr., of Winchendon, is a 
regular member of a religious Society in Winchendon, called Methodist, and 
pays there. Stephen Weston, 

Smyrna Greaton, 
Barzillai Martin. 
Winchendon, Sept. 7, 1S20." 

THE PARSONAGE. 

The old parsonage was not owned by the Church, but by an associ- 
ation of the members formed for the specific purpose. The present par- 
sonage stands on the old location. It was finished in June, 1864. The 
cost was about 82500. It is a residence creditable to the Society. 
The building committee were Messrs. William L. Woodcock, Aaron 
Winch and William Wilder. The Rev. Mr. Best, who was in charge 
at the time, was very efficient in his efforts to secure a good parsonage 
for his successors. New parsonages and church edifices are his monu- 
ments in various places. 

4. the north congregational church. 

The tendency of the population towards the Village, which began 
about 1830, created a necessity for religious privileges there. Accord- 
ingly the Methodist Society acted wisely for themselves, and for the 
public good, when they erected their new house of worship, in 1832-3. 
For similar reasons, those members of the Congregational Church and 
congregation who resided in the northern part of the town, felt impelled 
to establish a meeting for themselves, and others who might join them, 
in the Village, and in 1842, or the beginning of 1843, several per- 
sons formed a company to build a meeting-house, which should be trans- 
ferred to a regular Congregational Parish, in due time. The names of 
the members of this company are copied below, to gratify the curi- 
osity of a future generation. They are as follows : Reuben Hyde, Ez- 
ra Hyde, Asa Hyde, Job Hyde, Artemas Edmands, Alvah Godding, 
Elisha Hyde, John Hyde, Oliver Lovejoy, Samuel Brown, John For- 
ristall, Isaac Goodspeed, Elisha Beaman, Ebenezer Butler, Nathan H. 
Hand, Mark Whitcomb, Harvey Wyman, Levi N. Fairbanks, William 



348 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 

Tolman, Sidney Fairbanks, William Brown, Daniels Ellis, Setli Tucker, 
Jr., Cyrus Houghton. This company chose a building committee, con- 
sisting of Mark Whitcomb, Esq., Dr. A. Godding, Dea. Ebenezer But- 
ler, and perhaps others were members. 

The frame was raised on a pleasant day in June, 1843. A prayer 
was offered on the occasion by Mr. Marvin, at the time supplying the 
pulpit on the hill. The house was about G4 by 44 feet, including the 
portico and pillars — live feet — in front. The spire rose 110 1-2 feet 
from the ground. There were sixty-two slips on the floor of the house, 
besides a singers' gallery. The audience room was neatly finished, and 
quite pleasant. The original cost was not far from $5,000. 

CHURCH ORGANIZED. 

The North Congregational Church in Winchendon, was consti- 
tuted by a regular Ecclesiastical Council, on the 7th day of December, 
1843. The Council was composed of the following members : From 
the Church in Royalston, Rev. Ebenezer Perkins, Br. William Chase ; 
Rindge, Rev. A. W. Burnham, Dea. L. Goddard ; Templeton, Rev. 
Lewis Sabin, Dea. B. Hawkes ; Winchendon, Dea. Paul Raymond. 
Rev. Benjamin Rice acted with the Council by request. Mr. Perkins 
was moderator, and Mr. Sabin scribe. Prayer by Rev. Mr. Rice ; 
Recognition and Consecrating Prayer by Mr. Perkins ; Fellowship of 
the Churches by Mr. Burnham ; Concluding Prayer by Mr. Sabin. 

The original members of the Church were sixty-seven, who were all 
members of the First Church, with one or two exceptions. They adopt- 
ed the following Confession of Faith, which, as it is brief, is given 
entire. 

'• We believe there is one God, self-existent, eternal, perfectly holy; the 
Creator and rightful Disposer of all things, subsisting in a manner mysteri- 
ous to us, as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. 

We believe that the Bible is the revealed will of God to mankind, and was 
given by inspiration, as the only unerring rule of faith and practice. 

We believe that mankind are fallen from their original rectitude, and are, 
while in a state of nature, wholly destitute of that holiness which is required 
by the divine law. 

We believe that Jesus Christ, the eternal Word, was made flesh, or in a 
mysterious manner, became man, and by his obedience, sufferings and death, 
made full satisfaction for the sins of the world, and opened a way by which 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 349 

all who believe in him, with repentance for their sins, may be justified and 
saved, without an impeachment of the divine justice and truth. 

We believe that they, and they only, will be saved, in consequence of the 
merits of Christ, who are born of the spirit, and united by a living faith to the 
Son of God. 

We believe that God has appointed a day in which he will judge the world ; 
when there shall be a resurrection of the dead, and when all the righteous will 
enter on eternal happiness, and all the wicked will be condemned to eternal 
misery " 

The Covenant adopted at the same time, is substantially, and almost 
literally, like that of the First Church, as found on page 814. At this 
meeting, the Church voted unanimously, the female members concur- 
ring, to invite Mr. Abijah P. Marvin, a graduate of Trinity College, 
Hartford, and of the Yale Theological Seminary, who had been approba- 
ted to preach by the New London, Conn., Association, to settle with them 
in the Gospel Ministry. The Parish, which had already been legally 
constituted, united in this invitation, without a dissenting voice. The 
correspondence between the parties is omitted. The invitation was ac- 
cepted, and the ordination services took place according to the follow- 
ing record. 

THE ORDINATION. 

The Council met on the 9th day of January, 1844, at the house of 
Dr. Alvah Godding, and w r as made up of ministers and delegates from 
the following Churches : Rindge, Rev. Mr. Burnham, Br. J. B. Breed ; 
South Royalston, Rev. S. H. Peckham, Br. D. W. Upham ; Temple- 
ton, Rev. Mr. Sabin, Br. Daniel Foster ; Athol, Rev. R. M. Chipman, 
Dea. Samuel Clapp ; Gardner, Rev. W. B. Stone, Br. R. G. Cowee ; 
Ashburnham, Rev. E. Jennison, Br. 0. G. Caldwell ; Royalston, Dea. 
E. Pierce ; Winchendon, Br. Henry Greenwood. Rev. B. Rice, of 
Winchendon, and Rev. Edward R. Tyler, (editor of the NewEngland- 
er) of New Haven, being present, by verbal invitation of the Church 
and pastor elect, were invited to sit with the Council. Mr. Burnham 
was moderator, and Mr. Jennison, scribe. The examination of the can- 
didate took place in the afternoon and evening. 

The next forenopn, which was a bright and pleasant winter day, the 
new meeting-house was dedicated to the worship of the triune God. 
The Rev. Richard M. Chipman offered the Introductory Prayer ; the 



350 HISTORY OF WIXCHENDON. 

Sermon was by the pastor elect, and the Prayer of Dedication was by 
the Rev. Samuel H. Peckham, of South Royalston. 

In the afternoon, the Ordination services took place in presence of 
a crowded assemblage. The Rev. Benjamin Rice, then ministering 
to the First Church, read the Scriptures, and made the Introductory 
Prayer ; the Sermon was by Mr. Tyler, of New Haven ; the Ordain- 
ing Prayer was offered by Mr. Jennison ; Rev. Mr. (now Dr.) Burn- 
ham, gave the Charge to the Pastor ; the Right Hand of Fellowship 
was by Rev. (now Dr.) Sabin ; the Address to the people was by Mr. 
Chipman, and Mr. Stone closed the exercises with prayer* The sing- 
ing, under the direction of Mr. Osgood Collester, was excellent, and 
all the services were well received by the large audience.* The min- 
ister was settled on a salary of $500 per annum, which was about the 
average of salaries in the neighboring parishes. 

Though the projectors of this new enterprise had misgivings about 
their ability to sustain public worship, and doubts whether a congrega- 
tion, respectable in number, could be collected ; and though they had 
but scanty encouragement from others, yet the house was immediately 
filled up, and from that time, there has been no lack of pecuniary means 
necessary to pay all the expenses of the parish. The congregation be- 
came, and remained the largest in town since the flourishing days of 
the First Church. 

The day succeeding the ordination, the pews were offered for sale, 
and nearly money enough was raised to pay for the meeting-house. 

Brothers Reuben Hyde and Ebenezer Butler, were chosen to the 
office of Deacon. 

In the year 1844, sixteen persons were received into the Church by 
letter, making the whole number eighty-three. Seven were received 
in 1845, four in 1846, three in 1847. In the next year, there were 
fifteen additions, eleven or twelve of which were by profession. From 
that date there have been admissions by profession, every year, except 
1852. 



* The following is taken from the Boston Recorder, January 25, 1844 : " The 
day was beautiful for a wintry day— the house crowded to overflowing, the 
services solemn and appropriate, the music excellent, and the appearance of 
the audience furnished ample evidence that a good impression was produced. 
This new church, having but just been organized, with their new meeting- 
house located in a flourishing village, and their young pastor in the freshness 
of ministerial life, commences its career by the brightest prospects of useful- 
ness and success." 



HISTORY OF WINCIIENDON. 



ENLARGED HOUSE, AND BELL. 



In 1855, there was a need felt for more room, and money enough 
was subscribed for enlarging the house of worship. The east end of 
the house was removed, and an addition built on large enough to ad- 
mit twenty-four new pews. The gallery was enlarged by adding the 
front row of seats. In this way the capacity of the house was increas- 
ed about one half; that is, before the enlargement, the house would 
accommodate only about two-thirds as many as afterwards. There are 
eighty-six pews on the floor of the house, which will hold five or six 
persons, according to their size ; and the gallery will accommodate about 
fifty. At the same time, the eastern half of the basement, which is 
entirely above-ground, was finished oif into a Lecture room, two Parlors, 
a Dressing room, and large entry, for religious and social uses. The 
whole cost of these improvements was about $2,000. The entire length 
of the house, outside, is 8-1 feet. The audience room is about 70 by 
42 feet. Dea. E. Butler, Mr. C. 11. Whitman and Capt. C. W. Big- 
clow had charge of the work. 

The first bell was purchased by subscription, and was hung in the 
year 1848. It weighed 1640 pounds, and cost nearly $600. It was 
from the Meneely foundry, and was one of their sweetest toned bells. 
This was broken, and in 1864, was replaced by another, winch did not 
give satisfaction. This was returned, according to agreement, and the 
present bell obtained, in that year, at an expense of about 8300.00 in 
addition to the old bell metal. Its weight is 1818 pounds. 

There were additions to the Church, from year to year, amounting 
in all, during the pastorate of the first minister, to one hundred and 
thirty-two. Of these, about ninety joined by confessing Christ, all of 
whom were added in the eighteen last years of the period. The ut- 
most harmony prevailed during these years of rise and progress. Only 
a single instance of discipline — involving three persons — occurred, and 
in that case the conclusion reached was unanimous. No member who 
first united with this Church, by confessing Christ, has been a subject 
of discipline. The utmost care has been taken in the examination of 
candidates. H 

Mr. Marvin asked a dismission on the 20th of July, 1865. The 
Church and Parish voted instead, to give him leave of absence for a year. 
Near the close of the year, (July 22, 1866,) he renewed the request, 



352 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 

and the Church united with him in calling a Council, by whom the dis- 
solution of their relation as pastor and people, was effected, on the 22d 
day of August, 1866. 

A Sabbath School was organized soon after the commencement of 
public worship, in 1844, and has been in a flourishing condition to the 
present time. The Superintendents have been Deacons Hyde and But- 
ler, and Messrs. Maynard Partridge, Harvey Wyman, Grover S. Whit- 
ney, and Orlando Mason ; the latter having served many years. The 
library contains a good collection of books, numbering several hundred 
volumes, some of them of permanent value. The Sabbath School, for 
several years, has numbered about one hundred and eighty. 

The salary of the minister was $500 for several years. For a year 
or two it was $550 ; and then $600. In 1856 it was raised to $800, 
and so remained till 1866, except that in 1862, Mr. Marvin gave up 
10 per cent., or $80, on account of the " hard times." On the settle- 
ment of Mr. Austin Dodge, who was ordained and installed on the 9th 
of October, 1866, it was raised to $1200. He continued as pastor 
about one year, when he was dismissed by a mutual Council. The 
Church passed highly complimentary resolutions in his favor. The Rev. 
Davis Foster is now supplying the pulpit on an engagement for a year, 
with a salary of $1500. 

The Church took early measures for raising money in aid of the great 
benevolent objects of the day. Besides private benefactions to those 
in want, without distinction of class or denomination, to aid whom the 
members have ever been prompt, a regular collection has been taken 
at every season of communion, for the benefit of members of the Church 
in needy circumstances. The contributions for other benevolent objects 
for several years, amounted to about $300 per annum ; averaging rath- 
er more than that sum. In 1860, the sum was $467 ; in 1861, about 
$470; in 1862, $321: in 1863, $495; in 1864, $663 ; in 1865, about 
$720. The average for the two succeeding years was about the sum 
last named. The whole amount is more than $10,000. 

5. BAPTIST CHURCH IN THE VILLAGE. 

This^hurch was organized in the year 1848, on the 27th of April. 
It was composed of members of the Church in New Boston, and others 
living in and near the Village, who belonged to churches in other towns. 
The original number was thirty. The Rev. Andrew Dunn, who had 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDO^. 353 

ministered for several years to the church in New Boston, was the first 
pastor. In co-operation with Mr. Seth Tucker, Jr., and others, he was 
active in starting the enterprise. The fact that the Congregational 
and Methodist Churches were well filled on the Sabbath, and that the 
population of the Village was steadily increasing, seemed to warrant 
the undertaking, and the success which has followed, fully vindicates the 
wisdom of those engaged in it. Measures were immediately taken to 
erect a house of worship. The members of the church, and their friends 
in the congregation, subscribed liberally. Others who thought the es- 
tablishment of anew religious society, would be conducive to the improve- 
ment of society in the place, rendered assistance. A neat and com- 
modious sanctuary was erected, and was dedicated to the Triune God, 
on the 17th day of January, 1849. The Sermon on the occasion was 
preached by the Rev. Rollin H. Neale,"D. D., pastor of the First Bap- 
tist Church in Boston. Other parts in the exercises were borne by Rev. 
Messrs. Tracy, Bowers and Dunn. The services were deeply interest- 
ing to a large audience. 

From this time onward the Church has received additions from year 
to year, by a regular, steady growth. At the end of the first year, the 
Church consisted of thirty-eight members. There had been " no special 
revival, but some were rejoicing in hope." The first Deacons were Jo- 
seph White and John L. Reed. Mr. 0. Collester was the first Clerk. 
He was also the leader of the choir, and the singing was conducted with 
great spirit. Much interest was manifested in the Sabbath School, 
which was attended by nearly all the children of the congregation, and 
by all the members of the Church who could be present. During the 
second year, the Church is reported to have " enjoyed a precious and 
extensive revival." Much of the interest in this awakening was felt 
among those who resided in Spring Village. Mr. Goodale, a young 
man who was preparing for the Missionary work, but who died in the 
course of this year, was very active in rendering assistance to the pas- 
tor. Twenty-seven persons were received by baptism, and seven by 
letter, during the year ending September, 1850. Three had been dis- 
missed, leaving the whole number sixty-nine. In the next year two 
were added by baptism, and eleven by letter ; so that, after deducting 
a few dismissions and exclusions, the Church contained eighty members. 
The society was united and prosperous during the following year. 

83 



854 history or whstchendon. 

Tho year closing September, 1853, seems to have been a season of 
depression. The Church was without a pastor, the Rev. Mr. Dunn hav- 
ing removed to another place. Preaching was sustained but part of 
the time. Seventeen were dismissed to other Churches, and others left 
town. In addition, the furious tornado which rushed over the Village, 
August 27, 1858, broke off the spire, and otherwise injured the sanc- 
tuary. The Rev. A. Baldwin became pastor in the year 1854, and 
continued in that relation about three years. He was a faithful min- 
ister, and the Church recovered somewhat from its depression. In 
1856, four " young ladies in the Sabbath School were hopefully con- 
verted." After the departure of Mr. Baldwin, in 1857, the Church 
was reported to the Wachusett Baptist Association, as " in a low and 
dying condition." There were but " nineteen male members, and of 
these nine did not live in town." 

The report of the next year was more favorable. Rev. Lester Will- 
iams though not a settled pastor, was efficient in his ministrations. There 
were some cases of conversion, and there was an increasing interest in 
the Sabbath School. The Church now numbered sixty-nine. Mr. Will- 
iams was succeeded in the course of the next year, by Rev. W. W. Ash- 
ley. In the report from the Church printed in the Minutes of the Wa- 
chusett Association for 1860, we find the following : " Winchendon. — 
This body report themselves a united Church, a hopeful Church, a 
strong Church, a growing Church, and are thankful to God for his bene- 
fits." Four Avere added by baptism, and the whole number was sixty- 
nine. Mr. Ashley left in April, 1861, and the Church had preaching by 
different ministers for several months. In the summer of this year, Mr. 
George A. Litchfield entered upon the work of the ministry here, and his 
labors were attended with success. At the time of the annual report in 
September, 1862, it was stated that a " deep sense of the divine pres- 
ence pervaded the Church," and with " scarcely an exception, all seemed 
ready to come up to the help of the Lord." Twenty-two were added 
to the Church by baptism, and the number rose to eighty-seven. The 
Sabbath School was flourishing. The report for the next year dated 
September, 1863, says : " We are a united Church, united in our pas- 
tor, free from debt, and praying for the conversion of sinners." There 
was considerable religious interest during the winter, though no known 
conversions. One member of the Church and Sabbath School had died 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 355 

in the service of I113 country. The number of members of the Church 
reported in 1864, was one hundred and four. The house of worship 
was usually well filled on the Sabbath, and the Sabbath School was lar- 
ger than usual. The Church enjoyed outward and spiritual prosperity. 
During the year 1864-5, there were indications at times that the Lord 
was coming to bless in copious measure, and although anticipations were 
not realized, yet some souls were " rescued from the downward road, 
and the religious condition of the Church was permanently improved." 
The young people's prayer meeting had its origin at this time, and since 
then has been well sustained. Mr. Litchfield's pastoral labors termi- 
nated in the autumn of 1865, the state of his health inducing him to 
change his occupation, though he has frequently preached on the Sab- 
bath in various places. His pastorate was filled with labor, and was at- 
tended with success. In 1865, the Church had one hundred and eleven 
members. 

Since that time the Church has had no pastor or stated supply, but 
has enjoyed the services of a large number of ministers. In the fall of 
1866, the Church was refreshed with a precious revival, commencing 
with the young, and resulting in the conversion of many children, youth, 
and persons of middle age. The work seemed to be under the imme- 
diate direction of the Holy Spirit, and went steadily forward without 
any regular pastoral labor. It was noticed that whoever preached — 
and there was a new minister almost as often as the Sabbath came — 
the Spirit appeared to speak as if he had been specially directed what 
message to bring to the waiting congregation. The members of the Church 
were generally active. The number of admissions by baptism as the fruits 
of this work, was thirty-eight. The congregation has since been favored 
with the services of a number of ministers, but has not succeeded in se- 
curing one as a permanent pastor. In 1867, the house was repaired, 
at considerable expense, internally, and the spire, blown over by the 
gale in 1853, was rebuilt. The congregation has increased with the 
steady growth of the Village. The following have been chosen deacons, 
viz : Otis Chamberlain and Windsor N. White. 

6. THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH. 

Soon after the opening of the Cheshire Railroad, in 1848, the incom- 
ing of families of Irish parentage, created a need for the ministrations 



356 HISTORY OF WINCHENDOX. 

of the Catholic priesthood. Meetings were held occasionally, by the 
priest from Fitchburg, or elsewhere, until the year 185-, when a build- 
ing erected for another purpose, was fitted up for a Church, on the north 
side of the Village, some fifty rods north of the Railroad Station, where 
religious services have been maintained, at stated times, ever since. 

7. THE UNITARIAN SOCIETY. 

The town hall was occupied by those holding Unitarian sentiments, 
in the year 1851. The " Third Congregational Society" was organ- 
ized, January 17, 1852. Various gentlemen preached for them in suc- 
cession, whose names cannot be recalled, with the exception of Rev. 
Mr. Mclntire, of Fitchburg, and Rev. Mr. I. Putnam, a young man of 
great promise, who died soon after. 

On the 19th of January, 1852, Rev. T. H. Dorr was duly installed. 
The Sermon was by Rev. Calvin Lincoln, of Fitchburg ; Installing 
Prayer, Rev. John S. Brown, Fitzwilliam ; Right Hand, Rev. Wm. P. 
Tilden ; Address to the people, Rev. Dr. A. Hill. Other members of 
the Council were Revs. E. G. Adams, H. 0. White, C. Wellington, H. 
Stebbins, A. Young, D. D., F. D. Huntington, J. D/Bridge, Samuel 
Pettis, and S. F. Clark. Dr. and Mrs. Joshua Tucker presented a 
" costly and valuable Bible." After about a year's service, the engage- 
ment with Mr. Dorr was dissolved by mutual consent. After his depar- 
ture, different ministers, including Rev. Mr. Hicks, supplied for two or 
three years, when Rev. Benjamin Huntoon was invited. He was here 
some two years, 1856-8. He was much esteemed by the public gen- 
erally. 

There was an intermission of services for several years, but in the 
winter of 1864-5, a society was formed, styled the Third Congrega- 
tional Society. The Rev. Charles H. Wheeler was engaged to preach, 
in the month of September, 1865, and has continued to the present 
time. A building committee was chosen, consisting of the following 
gentlemen, viz : I. M. Murdock, B. D. Whitney, Wm. W. Whitney, 
Sidney Fairbanks, John Folsom and George Goodspeed, under whose 
direction a church was erected in the years 1866-7, which was dedica- 
ted on the 13th day of November, 1867. The Prayer of Dedication 
was offered by Rev. Mr. Wheeler ; the Sermon by Rev. Dr. Bartol, of 
Boston, and an address was delivered by Rev. E. E. Hale, of Boston. 




GMreft oj tlit Vnlty. 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 857 

This house, styled " Church of the Unity," is a fine specimen of archi- 
tecture, unsurpassed in elegance by any edifice of the kind, between 
Boston and Berkshire. It is an ornament to the place, and will remain 
a " thing of beauty" for generations. It is built of Fitzwilliam gran- 
ite, and is 45 by 95 feet in dimensions. The spire rises one hundred 
and thirteen feet from the base. The whole cost, including the organ, 
was about $44,000. Since the church was opened for worship, there 
has been a good attendance, and the Sabbath School is flourishing. 

In former times, there was Universalist preaching in the town. About 
the year 1840, Rev. Mr. Clark, then of Jaffrey, and others, held meet- 
ings, either statedly or occasionally, in th^e Village school-house. Af- 
terwards, similar meetings were held in the Waterville school-house, in 
the afternoon or evening of the Sabbath. But no meeting of the kind 
has been held in the town for several years ; the larger part of those 
who used to be present at them, now attending at the Church of the 
Unity. 

Spiritualism and kindred notions never had much prevalence in the 
town. 

8. SCHOOL-HOUSE MEETINGS. 

• 

The ministers have been in the habit of holding meetings in the va- 
rious school-house3, from time to time, but the only stated meetings of 
this kind have been in Soring Village and Waterville. 

Mr. John D. Dunbar, and the Messrs. White have always favored 
the holding of meetings on Sabbath evenings in the school-house, which 
belongs to the corporation. Sometimes the pastors of the Churches 
have made it in their way to preach in the school-house ; and at other 
times, ministers have been employed for a season. Rev. Leonard Tra- 
cy spent several months there ministering to the people of this neigh- 
borhood, when recruiting from the toils of a long pastorate. Rev. Mr. 
Mitchell was at the Springs one or two years ; young Mr. Goodale held 
meetings for some months, and Mr. Martin, a Methodist minister, was 
stationed there for a year. The names of others cannot be recalled ; 
but the good effected by these faithful men will abide forever. At 
present, the Young Men's Christian Association are holding meetings 
on Sabbath evenings. 

About twenty years since, a company of ladies formed a plan of hav- 



358 history or winchendo*. 

ing preaching in the Waterville school-house on the evening of the Sab- 
bath. They invited the Congregational, Baptist and Methodist cler- 
gymen to preach in rotation. The ministers were glad of the oppor- 
tunity, and from that time have labored in entire harmony. The re- 
sults have been good in many ways, not only in promoting the interests 
of religion, but in showing how brethren can work together in unity. 
A gradual, but very perceptible change, has been effected in this vil- 
lage. Probably as large a proportion of the people attend meeting, as 
in any other part of the town. The same is true of the attendance of 
the children in the various Sabbath schools. 

In closing these brief notices of the Churches, the author takes occa- 
sion to express his earnest wishes for their continued and ever-increas- 
ing influence. And he will not be censured if a peculiar love for the 
Church to which he formerly ministered prompts him to refer to it in 
the language of a familiar hymn : 

" If e'er my heart forgets 

Her welfare or her woe, 
Let every joy this heart forsake, 
And every grief o'erftow." 

PAST AND PRESENT. 

There has never been a year since the first meeting-house was erect- 
ed, when the population of this town were more amply provided with 
conveniences for worship than at the present time. There are sittings 
for at least three-quarters of the inhabitants, including the aged, the 
sick, and those in early childhood. The great majority are connected 
with some religious society, and at times are found in the place of wor- 
ship. The average attendance is good, and though not so large as in 
early times, yet the state of religion and morals is probably quite as 
good. When people rarely met each other on week-days, they felt a 
strong social impulse to gather in the meeting-house on Sunday. This 
accounts, in part, for the better attendance in old times. But it is the 
firm conviction of the author, after much inquiry, that there was a 
greater amount of disbelief in the Scriptures, a lower state of morals, 
and a weaker sense of divine and unseen realities, among the people of 
this town, sixty, seventy and eighty years ago, than in this year* of 
grace, eighteen hundred and sixty-eight. 



HISTORY OP WINCHENDON. 359 



CHAPTER XXIIL— A BILL OF MORTALITY. 



" Leaves have their time to fall, 
And flowers to wither at the north wind's breath, 

And stars to set— but all, 
Thou hast ail seasons for thine own, O death !" 

Mrs. Hemans. 

*• An old, old man with beard as white us snow." 

Spenser. 

Winchendon is a Healthy township. The air of some localities in the 
Commonwealth may be more salubrious, and the rate of mortality less, 
than in this town, but the duration of life here is above the average of 
the towns and cities throughout the State. It is believed to be quite 
equal to that of the towns, excluding the cities. The location is high, 
being more than a thousand feet above tide-water. The air is pure. 
The water is generally soft and sweet. In a portion of the Village, it 
is hard and swampy, with traces of iron, but there is an abundance of 
fine spring water, in the near vicinity, with which a large population 
could be supplied, in every part of their dwellings. 

In the early years of settlement, when the people were exposed to 
great hardships, they suffered much from colds and rheumatic complaints. 
At times, malignant fevers have cut down their victims suddenly, though 
there is no record or tradition of the prevalence of fatal typhus or ty- 
phoid fevers, such as have carried mourning into many families in some 
country towns. 

The first season of more than common mortality in this town, was in 
the summer of 1775. Nathan Day died of dysentery, in camp at 
Charlestowii. This disease, called at the time, " fever and flux, " and 
" camp distemper," prevailed in many places. The sickness in this 
town was severe, ajnd " in a considerable number of cases, terminated 
fatally." It affected aged people, and children, especially the latter, 
many of whom died. In 1786, during the warm season of the year, 



360 HISTORY OF fflffCfiENDOff. 

the dysentery prevailed again, and twenty-eight persons died. The 
canker rash or throat distemper, as it was often called, carried off 
many children in the west part of the town, in 1795. 

In 1810-11, there was a fearful malady among the children. From 
May 29, 1810, to December 80, forty-five children fell victims, nearly 
all of whom died of the same disease. In the Church records kept 
by Mr. Pillsbury, " Quinsy," or " Canker," is written against their 
names. It is thought by aged persons, who remember this sickness, 
that it was the same form as that now known by the name of "dipthe- 
ria." Between February; 17, 1811, and December 10, of the same 
year, fourteen children died, mostly of the same complaint, making 
fifty-nine deaths of children in about twenty months. Some families 
lost all their children. In August, 1810, seven died ; in September, 
twelve ; in October, fourteen. The sickness prevailed in different parts 
of the town, but raged with special virulence in the south part, extend- 
ing from Capt. Whitcomb's, on the south-east, to Mr. Thog. Wyman's, 
on the west, nearly four miles. The former lost two, and the latter 
four children. Capt. Stoddard lost three ; Mr. Gideon Balcom, three ; 
Mr. James McElwain, three. The seventh district lost more than half 
of the children within its limits. In other districts, Lieut. Isaac Morse 
lost two; Mr. Hapgood, four; Mr. Seth Tucker, Sen., two, and Mr. 
Jacob Hale, two. There has been no year since when so many chil- 
dren have died, although the population has been more than doubled. 
Nor has there been a year when go large a proportion of persons of all 
ages have died ; not even during the late war. Indeed there has been 
no prevailing sickness since, unless perhaps in one year. In 1849 
there were eight cases of death by scarlet fever. Some of the chil- 
dren were very bright and promising. In 1863, there were thirty 
deaths of children, making this an exceptional year ; but these deaths 
were caused by various diseases, as " diptheria," " scarlet fever," 
" canker rash," &c , as they are styled in the Register. Many of these 
children were of foreign parentage. 

It may be stated on the authority of Rev. Dr. Whiton, that in 1810- 
11, there were between one and two hundred cases of M spotted fever." 
There was alarm at first, but only two or three cases proved fatal. 

Occasionally there has been an unusual degree of mortality among 
aged persons. At the close of a long, cold, hard winter, it has bees 



HISTORY OF wTNCHENEODT. 



361 



noticed more than once, that old people have suddenly drooped at the 
corning on of warm weather, and have been gathered to their fathers. 
In some years there has been an uncommon number of deaths by con- 
gumption ; but in general, lung complaints have not been more numer- 
ous here in proportion to the population, than in the healthy portions 
of the Commonwealth. It is sometimes said that the low lands near 
the river are liable to fevers, from fogs and other causes, but as a mat- 
ter of fact, there has never been what might be called a " sickly time " 
from fevers, while other towns in the vicinity have, at times, suffered 
severely from this fonn of disease. 

Many people have lived to a good old age. It is known that many 
of the early settlers passed far beyond the scriptural term of " three 
score and ten," but the registers and records do not, in many case3, 
give their age at their decease. 

The following is a list of those who have died since the beginning 
of 1820,— excepting a few years—who survived to their 80th year. 
The number between 60 and 80 would take more space than could well 
be spared. The following names arc given in the. order of time, with- 
out designating each year. 



Mrs. Beulah Prentice, 
Daniel Goodridge, 
lleuben Vose, 
Abigail Bemis, 
Benjamin Kidder, 
Miss Mitchell, 
Edward Stone, 
Jacob Hale, 
Jonathan Pollard, 
Sally Stimpson, 
David Poor, 
Widow I. Bennett, 
Lydia Darling, 
Lucy Wilson. 
Asa Maynard, 
Sarah Brooks, 
Jonas Bradish, 
Simeon Tuttle, 
Huldah Streetcr, 
Daniel Day. ^ 
Elizabeth Kugg, 
Jonathan Patch, 
Zeruiah Adams, 



81 
83 
81 



87 
89 
84 
87 
91 
80 
79 
79 
80 
80 
81 
89 
85 
87 
81 
88 
81 
83 
82 



Ephraim Mtvrdock, 


81 


William Bobbins, 


83 


Anna Parker, 


88 


Mrs. Ehen Kichardson, 


84 


Dea. Amos Hey ivood, 


84 


John Bemis, 


87 


Jane Poor, 


93 


Sally Goodridge, 


81 


Tabitha Eddy, 


1)0 


Stephen Emery, 


98 


Abigail Wilson, 


83 


Hannah Perry, 


80 


Mary Sargent, 


80 


Isaac Taylor, 


84 


Betsey Poland, 


87 


Martha Butler, 


79 


John Estey, 


80 


Jacob Parks, 


87 


Sarah Kimball, 


92 


Joanna Goodridge, 


82 


Asa Hale, 


84 


Elisha Gregory, 


82 


Lucy Sherwin, 


91 



I 






362 



HISTORY OF WISTCHENDON. 



Chloe Maynarcl, 


84 


Tisdale Howard, 


85 


Pbinehas Ball, 


90 


Ruth Godding, 


86 


Jacob Scott. 


86 


Noah Holman, 


82 


Eunice Bobbins, 


85 


Abigail Edraands, 


89 


Seth Tucker, 


98 


Timothy Godding, 


93 


Betsey May, 


61 


Sally Stimpson, 


86 


Mary Fletcher, 


90 


Huldal) Brown, 


83 


Hannah Parks, 


83 


Rebecca Graton, 


91 


Pbinehas Parks, 


88 


Polly Cutter, 


92 


Abiel Alger, 


87 


James McElwain, 


80 


Asa Hyde, 


81 


William Tolman, 


82 


Parnel Fry, 


8G 


Daniel Bowker, 


81 


Ruth Stuart, 


SO 


Daniel Hale, 


79 


Abigail Raymond, 


' 81 


Lucy Pitkin, 


79 


Lucy Whitney, 


82 


Phinehas Ross, 


79 


William Brooks, 


80 


Rebecca Farrar, 


79 


Martha Brown, 


86 


Martha Battles, 


86 


John Weston, 


HG 


Persia Bowker, 


85 


Sukey Fairbanks, 


79 


Abigail Brown, 


81 


Simon Pierce, 


81 


Sally Bowker, 


86 


Sylvan Harris, 


87 


Rachel Steel, 


79 


William McGrath, 


85 


Richard Condon, 


88 



In 1849, Mr. Hyde gave the names of eighteen persons then living, 
v/ho were eighty and upwards. The following list of aged persons liv- 
in the town in the opening of the year 1868, may properly be append- 
ed here. The exact age of two or three cannot be given, and it is 
possible that they are not quite eighty. 

Betsey Holman, 
Jacob Woodbury, 
Jonathan Wyman, 
John Raymond, 
John Woodbury, 
Reuben Vose, 
Moses M. Reed, 
Margaret Hale, 
Betsey Smith, 
Katharine Day, 



91 


Daniel Day, 


81 


85 


Olive Wyman, 


79 


85 


Eunice Woodbury, 


79 


83 


Mr. Daniels, 


80 


83 


Eunice Brown, 


83 


83 


Esther Kilburn, 


80 


83 


Prudence Priest, 


80 


82 


Obadiah Walker, 


79 


82 


Henry Mason, 


83 


82 


Joseph Stone, about 


80 



HISTORY Of WINCHENDON. 363 



CHAPTER XXIV.— BUSINESS OF WIN 
CHENDON. . 



" How blest the farmer's simple life ! 

How pure the joy it yields ! 
Far from the world's tempestuous strife, 

Free, 'mid the scented fields ! 

REV. C. W. Everest. 

" The smith, a mighty man is he." 

Longfellow. 

"With a buzz and ahum swift rolls the wheel, 
In go wool, cotDbn, wood, iron and steel, 
Out come the nice cloth, barrows, hoops and sleds, 
Fig boxes, lemon squeezers, faucets and beds, 
Pails, tubs, churns, buckets, the sewing machine, 
And strawberry baskets fit for a queen/' 

MaCIIIN.E Poesis. 

The history of business in the town cannot be made complete, be- 
cause the information needed was lost when the Assessors' books were 
burned. What can be gleaned from the Records, and from the mem- 
ory of aged persons, in relation to the last century ; and from various 
sources, in regard to the present century, will be arranged, so far as 
convenient, in chronological order. 

SECTION 1. — FARMING AND STOCK. 

The chief business of the early settlers was farming. The best land 
in all parts of the town was soon taken up, and put under cultivation. 
Some had much more land than they could properly manage, but in 
time this was divided among children, or sold to new comers, till farms 
became more convenient in size. As long ago as 1790, about thirty- 
six years after the organization of the town, there were probably as 
many engaged in cultivating the land, and drawing their subsistence 
from it, as there are at the present day. Two-thirds of our present 
population live in the villages, and are employed otherwise than in 
agriculture. 

The soil in old times was said to be good. The ordinary crops of 



304 HISTORY OP WINCHEND05.' 

Central New England were raised in this town. Late frosta sometimes 
cut down the new corn, beans and virjes ; and in some seasons, early 
frosts in autumn, injured the unripened fruits of the earth. But in 
general the farmer was well rewarded for his labor. Pastures and grass 
lands have always yielded well, as the soil is naturally moist except on 
the sand plains. With good cultivation, the lands have borne well to 
every successive generation of farmers. During the last quarter of a 
century, there has been a decided improvement in different parts of the 
town ; especially near the Village. The aspect of the land is more 
pleasant, as stumps, rocks and hummocks have been removed. 

In former times, cattle and horses were pastured and fed here in 
considerable numbers. Neat stock were sent here in the spring, and 
driven away in the fall, to market. Horses were taken up from below, 
a3 cold weather came on, and Averc fed, during the winter, on the su- 
perabundant hay. Thus the hay was sold a,t a good profit, manure was 
saved for the land, and the farmer was paid for his trouble. Some of 
the inhabitants, as William Whitney, and Phinehas, his son, besides 
this business, dealt largely in cattle and horses, at times, with profit. 
Besides, thousands of cattle, sheep and swine, used to be driven through 
the town, on the way to market, and quite a revenue was obtained from 
feeding them while on the way. 

SECTION 2. THE FIRST MILLS. 

The first reference to a mill in the Proprietors' Records, is under 
date of 1738. It was voted ; ' that twenty shillings on each original 
right be raised for the encouragement of such persons as shall build a 
saw-mill." Nothing was done. In 1742, March 14, the following ac- 
tion was had. " Voted, that Col. Thomas Berry, Messrs. William 
Brown and Samuel Dodge be a committee to build a saw-mill in the 
most convenient place, and for the best advantage to the Proprietors, 
taking the best advice therefor," It is said, on good authority, that 
the mill was built where the Carter mill now stands, but it was not put 
in operation for several years. The above committee were " direct^ 
cd and empowered to treat and agree with Joseph Priest, or his son, 
or some other blacksmith, to do the Proprietors' blacksmith's work in 
the Township in the best way and manner they can for the advan- 
tage of the Proprietors." Priest had been induced by a grant of land 
bv government, to build a house of entertainment, on the road from 



HISTORY OF WIXCHENDON. 365 

Keene to Lunenburg, just over the Royalston line, west from Mr* 
George Gregory's. There is an old tradition that an attack was made 
on this " half-way house," in 1747, by Indians. An aged woman said 
so to somebody, but no authentic information of anything so warlike in 
this neigborhood, can be found. 

In 1756, March 10, the saw-mill was accepted. This was eighteen 
years after the first vote in relation to a saw-mill, and fourteen years 
after it is supposed to have been built ; but only three or four years 
after the actual and permanent settlement of the place. Two years 
later, November 30, 1758, Ave have the first notice of an effort to build 
a grist, or corn-mill, in the township. The Proprietors voted that they 
would " act on the affair to build a grist-mill." And they farther vo- 
ted, that " for encouragement, two dollars be granted on each original 
right, to any person or persons, that shall undertake and build a grist- 
mill in said Township, and keep said mill in repair, and grind for the 
inhabitants for lawful toll, for the term of ten years ; and that the money 
shall be paid as soon as the mill is fit to grind. Also, 100 acres of land, 
with the stream, be given by said Proprietors, for further encourage- 
ment to the person or persons, that shall undertake and build said mill." 
The mill was built before 1762, by Bartholomew Parsons, or Pearson, 
because in that year we find it recorded that a bridge was built " over 
the river by Mr. Parsons' mill-place." This mill stood near the shop 
of Messrs. Loud. A saw-mill was added, as the wants of the neigh- 
borhood required, and both were continued, though in successive build- 
ings, until recently. The last building, which covered both sets of 
machinery, is now the west end of Goodspeed & Wyman's long shop. 
Among the proprietors of this mill, or more correctly, mill-site, were 
Bartholomew and Richard Parsons, Mr Cambridge, Mr. Mason, Ben- 
jamin Hall, Gamaliel Beaman, Miles Putnam, Amos Goodhue, Phine- 
has Whitney, and Amasa Whitney, the Winchendon Manufacturing 
Company and the present owners. 

Many kinds of business have been pursued in connection with this 
water power. Messrs. Phinehas & Amasa Whitney had an oil mill in 
operation several years, where the Messrs. Loud now make faucets. 
Flaxseed was pressed for the oil, and the residue was made into oil cake 
and fed to cattle. * This business was given up in 1828. 

In 1793, there was a clothier in town, named Cambridge. His mill 
was not far from the dam. The fulling mill was burned in 1818. Mr. 



366 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 

Silas Coffin run the mill from 1812 to 1816. It was rebuilt and spin- 
ning machinery was put in. The weaving was done in families. The 
building was burned in 1825. A new factory was erected, and ma- 
chinery for weaving was added. During these years the business was 
carried on by Mr. Amasa Whitney. It then — about 1887 — passed 
into the possession of the Winchendon Manufacturing Co. Mr. George 
Coffin and Messrs. Coffin & Vose, and Mr. Denny, of Barre, and 
again Mr. Coffin carried it on successively as a woolen factory. The 
Seamless Garment Company rented the building in 1856 and a year or 
two thereafter. It was burned in the year 1859. 

In 1793, there were two or three Potash works in the town. One 
was a little east of the house of Esq. Rice ; halfway down the hill-side, 
by the road. Another was on the Asa Perley place. 

It is not certainly known what mill was set up next, in the order of 
time ; but the Cook mill was among the first. This was just south-west 
of the bridge this side of Burrageville, and near the present road to 
Ashburnham. The old logs which always are to be found near old 
dams and saw-mills, are still embedded in the sand. This mill was in 
existence as early as the year 1793, when, according to Whitney's 
History of the county, there were six saw-mills and two grist-mills in 
this town. There was a run of stones in the Cook mill, for the conven- 
ience of the neighborhood. The way to the mill was by a cart-path, 
running north from the old Ashburnham road to the river. This path 
or mill-road started near the house of Mr. John Cook. The mill was 
abandoned not far from the year 1818. 

Coming down the stream about one-third of a mile, we find the site 
of the old Stimson mill, not far east from the bridge on the road that 
leads north from the Estey, or No. 5 school-house, to the Baldwin place. 
It belonged to Jonathan Stimson, who lived near ; afterwards it was 
the property of Roger Bigelow, and then of Nathan Knight. It was 
an old mill a3 long ago as 1800, and was given up about that time. 

The Butler mill, so called, was started about 1795, by Jonas Mar- 
shall. It was in the hands of Rufus Wilder about fourteen years, from 
1806 to 1820, at which last date it fell again into the possession of Mr. 
Marshall. It was then sold to Cyrus Pierce, who put in a grist-mill. 
In 1826, the property was bought by Messrs. Joel and Ebenezer But- 
ler, father and son. In 1864, Messrs. Wyman, Rice & Bigelow be- 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 367 

came the proprietors ; then Messrs. Rice & Wyman, who sold out in 
July of the present year to Mr. George S. Coffin. It has been much 
improved of late. The mill-stones have been taken out, and all the space 
is employed in working up timber for various uses. It is now to be 
used as a woolen mill. 

Going now to the north branch of the river, we find that in 1805 
there was a small house over the spring which gives the name to Spring 
Village, but there was no dwelling-house. Jacob Whitney, father of 
Elias Whitney the surveyor, owned the land. He lived north-east of 
the John Crosby place, more than half a mile from the spring. Some 
years later, Capt. Israel Wood started a saw-mill, where the cotton fac- 
tory now stands. In 1826, a woolen factory was set up by Silvenus 
Holbrook, and managed by Rob't Follett. Then came Philip Ridgway. 
William and John D. Dunbar began the cotton business in 1831. The 
establishment took the name of the Nelson mills in 1843, when Messrs. 
Henry Upham and others, including Dea. Joseph and Mr. Nelson D. 
White, became proprietors. From that time to the present, the latter 
gentleman has had charge of the business, of which he has been the 
principal owner since 1845. The first factory was built of wood. This 
was burned in May, 1854. The next year, the present building was 
erected. It is of brick, of the modern style of architecture, with tower 
and bell, and with neat surroundings. During this present year, 1868, 
the building is receiving large additions, giving it a capacity of 7000 
spindles. 

Following down the stream, we come to the Caswell, orBigelow mill, 
which was run by David Caswell ; then by Capt. Charles W. Bigelow, 
and is now the property of Murdock & Co. 

Farther down stream, and about one mile and a half north-east from 
the Village, is the Murdock mill. A dam and mill were built here in 
1827. It was in the hands of Joseph Adams from 1829 to 1836. He 
was killed by an accident in 1836, soon after parting with the property. 

Since the year 1836, it ha3 been the property of Capt. Ephraim 
Murdock, Jr., and Murdock & Co. Mr. Murdock became the owner 
in that year, and Major Sidney Fairbanks was taken into partnership 
in 1849. By removing the dam at the Caswell mill, and raising the 
dam of the lower mill, a head of water of more than thirty feet can be 
obtained. This would be a power probably unsurpassed in the county. 

The Woodbury mill was on the new county road to Gardner. The 



368 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 

stream is small, and the mill was run only a part of the year. The 
first mill was built in the year 17 8-, by Isaac Woodbury. The sec- 
ond, by his brother, Col. J. B. Woodbury. Nehemiah, son of the lat- 
ter, built it the third time. It was run by Capt. Levi Priest, a brother- 
in-law of the latter, during the last years of its existence, being at the 
time the property of Mr. John Woodbury. 

About the beginning of the century, and some years later, there was 
a tannery behind the spot on which the Bank now stands. A Mr. Burr 
was the proprietor ; afterwards it was owned and improved by Esq. 
Morse. His currier's shop was Avhere Mr. William W. Whitney now 
lives. The frame of the shop was newly covered, and so made into the 
house, by additions. In 1817, Mr. Morse built a small dam partway 
across the river, and put up a tannery where the tan-works now stand. 
Previously he had ground the bark in a horse mill. This establishment 
grew by degrees, during his day. After his decease, in 1850, it was 
purchased by Messrs. Nelson & Rice, of Shrewsbury. Mr. George 
Brown became a joint proprietor and resident manager at this time. 
At his death in 1866, Mr. Jonas A. Stone took the same position. 
The business is extensive. 

There was formerly a blacksmith shop opposite the house of Hon. 
Elisha Murdock, on the hill-side. It was owned by Esq. Murdock. He 
made sleighs in a shop which is now the residence of Mr. A. Whitney, 
Jr. The iron work for the sleighs was done in the blacksmith shop. 
This latter shop is now the property of Daniel and Salmon Scott, at 
the corner of Front and River streets. 

In 1823, Esq. Murdock set up a small shop, 20 by 18 feet, close by 
the Morse dam, for cutting stuff for sleighs. In due time the dam was 
raised and extended across the river. The power was greatly increased, 
and in the course of years, put to more extensive use. Col. William 
Murdock built a machine and bobbin shop in 1831. This was half way 
from the dam to the tannery. Still later, Capt. Murdock' put up a 
building between Col. M's and the dam. This was burned, and anoth- 
er was built. It was occupied by Mr. William Beaman, for a time, as 
a pail shop. Mr. M. T. Nash has manufactured various articles, by 
the help of this water power. The most recent water power in the Vil- 
lage is that of Mr. Baxter D. Whitney, at the railroad crossing. It 
was begun in 1846. 

Going down-stream, half way to Waterville, we find another fine mill- 





k®&jl® s£®m©2i, n. 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 369 

site. Here Capt. Levi Priest and Dea. Reuben Hyde put up a dam 
about 1825, but this was washed away. In 1850, Mr. Joseph A. Rob- 
bins and his brother Hervey, built anew, and secured a great power. 
A large shop was erected, in part of which is an excellent flouring-mill, 
with two run of stone. The main part of the building is used by Mr. 
William Beanian, in the manufacture of wooden ware. The establish- 
ment is now owned jointly, by Mr. Beaman, and by Messrs. Beals & 
Bowker. The latter firm carry on the flour and grain business. 

The first mill below Waterville was built about eighty years since, 
by Daniel Farrar, Sen., and a Mr. French. It was a saw and grist- 
mill, owned by Mr. Amasa Whitney when it was burned in 1810 or 12. 

The first mill in Waterville was the Aldrich mill, so called, built not 
far from 1820. It is the lower, or third one in the centre of Water- 
ville. It was built by William, or " uncle Bill" Bobbins. His son 
Lewis afterwards was connected with the establishment. Then Rich- 
ard Stuart, and still later, the Aldrich brothers, were proprietors. It 
is now in the possession of E. Murdock & Co., or Whitney & Whit- 
man. The upper mill was first started by Lewis Robbins, about 1825, 
The first attempt to make pails, tubs, &c, by machinery, was by Tuck- 
er & Chessman, between 1820 and 1830, either at this or the lower 
mill. The staves were not sawed, but split with a froe. They were 
shaved by hand, with a curved shave. 

Mr. Shailer next took the business, and he was succeeded by Lewis 
Robbins. Elisha Murdock bought the mill and water privilege in 1834. 
It 'was carried on by him successfully untill 1860, when his son-in-law, 
William W. Whitney, entered into partnership. In 1862, a new ar- 
rangement was made, by which Mr. Murdock retired, and James Whit- 
man became a partner. The business is still done under the title of 
E. Murdock & Co. 

The mill privilege now belonging to Woodcock & Sawyer, was first 
improved about the year 1835, by Capt. George Alger and Moses Han- 
cock. 

The mill-site of Mr. O.Mason was first occupied by Mr. Polycrates, 
(commonly called Cratus) Parks. He made clothes-pins, &c. This 
was in 1832. In JL8-15, Mr. Ephraim Kendall bought the property 
and built a saw-mill and a pail-shop. In 1853, the firm became Ken- 
dall & Mason. In 1863, Mr. Mason became the sole proprietor. 

34 



370 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 

Some thirty-five years since, Moses Foskett took the water from the 
river, below the Aldrich mill, by a ditch across the fields almost to the 
corner of the old R,oyalston and the Waterville roads, near his house, 
thence across the road northerly twenty or thirty rods, where he had 
a saw-mill. This was given up in 1852. 

In 1851, Warren and Alfred Hyde, sons of Ezra Hyde, Jr., the his- 
torian of the town, and grandson of the first Ezra, built the Hyde mill 
in Hydeville. The dam was swept away in 1852 ; then re-built ; then 
in 1853, came into possession of the present Ezra Hyde. As the Fos- 
kett mill took the water from the river above this mill and returned it 
below, that was now abandoned. Various kinds of business have been 
carried on at the Hydeville shops, such as chair making, the making of 
fancy boxes, spring beds, matresses, carts, sleds, and wheelbarrows for 
children, &c. 

A mile farther down the stream was the Kilburn mill-site, now aban- 
doned. Thi3 was used for cutting lumber. 

Stuart's brook comes in from Fitzwilliam about a mile east from the 
northwest corner of the town. A dam was built by Joseph Bobbins, 
in Robbinsville, about the beginning of this century. This has been in 
successive hands, and for many years past, has been a wooden ware es- 
tablishment, as well as saw-mill. Reuben Harris came into possession 
in 1845 ; Percival Sherwin and George B. Raymond were the next 
owners. It is now the property of Harrison Aldrich & Co. The lo- 
cality is sometimes called Harrisville. 

Descending the stream to Bullardville, we come to the mill anefbob- 
bin shop of the. Messrs. Parks. There have been at least five different 
sites for a dam near this place, and all below the present one. The first 
was built probably by Jeremiah Stuart, sometime after the Revolution, 
but the year cannot be ascertained. The dam on the spot now occupied, 
was put up in 1827, by Levi Parks and his brother Luke. It was sub- 
sequently owned by Charles Bullard, Calvin R. Whitman, Day & Parks, 
Whitman & [Edwin] Parks, and perhaps by others. Whitman, Parks, 
Day, and others, used it in making wooden ware. Messrs. Levi N., 
Martin H. and William Parks are now engaged in making an improved 
bobbin, (their own invention) in great quantity. 

The east branch of Stuart's brook comes in from Rindge, a little more 
than a mile east from the west branch. Benjamin May has a saw-mill 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 371 

near the State line. It was built by his father some eighty years since. 
Just below is the mill built in 1828, by William Bobbins, called " uncle 
Bill." It is now the property of Nahum Robbins, his son. 

Descending to Bullardville, we find the mill of Edward Loud, Jr. 
This was started by the above William Robbins, who was also the pio- 
neer in settling Waterville*. He began sometime between 1805 and 
1810. Edward Loud, Sen., owned and run it many years. His son 
Edward has carried on the business — making measures, &c, — for sev- 
eral years past. 

Crossing the road south, and on the west side of the stream, a shop 
was built about 18^20, by Jacob Simonds. It was afterwards run by 
Bill and Jake Taylor, and Levi Haskell. About forty years since, 
it became the property of Phinehas Parks, Jr., and is still in his pos- 
session. It has been used in cutting up timber for various purposes. 

The Gibson mill, so called, near the mouth of Priest's brook, was 
built not far from the beginning of the century. It stood near the road 
to South Royalston. A flood swept it away in 1817. It was rebuilt 
farther down stream, on the present site. 

Just below is the sash and blind shop of Mr. Minot Patch. 

The mill belonging to William Beaman, about half way from Car- 
ter's mill to the Vt. & Mass. railroad, was put up in 1843-4. 

WOOD WARE. 

In early times, shingles in large quantities, were split out of the no- 
ble pines which almost covered the land. From this circumstance, neigh- 
boring people called the place Shingletown. There is an old joke that 
shingles were used for currency. It is said that when a party of young 
fellows took their girls to ride, they used to throw a bundle or two of 
shingles into the wagon to pay their tavern bills. 

In due time the abundance of pine timber was worked into other forms, 
chiefly by hand. The first attempt at making pails, &c, by machinery, 
has been referred to above. The invention of the cylinder or barrel 
saw, by Dea. Reuben Hyde, was the indispensable requisite to the rap- 
id making of pails, tubs, churns, &c. After Elisha Murdock engaged 
in the business, tlte improvement in machinery was a steady growth. 
At first the staves were split with a froe, and shaved by hand. Then 
they were set up endwise and driven down between two shaves, one 



372 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 

concave and the other convex. The present mode was a great improve- 
ment. When Mr. Murdock wanted anything in the shape of machin- 
ery, he used to go to the shop of his brother William and ask him if 
he could fix it. And so the ingenious machinery by which wood ware 
is now turned off so rapidly, took shape. Others, by their ingenuity, 
contributed to the final perfection. 

At present there are eight or nine large mills for the making of wood 
ware in the town. Two are carried on by Murdock & Co., two by E. 
Murdock & Co., one by Irving E. Weston, one by Washington Whit- 
ney, one by William Beaman, one by Woodcock & Sawyer, one by Or- 
lando Mason, the Sibley mill, and the Aldrich & Co. mill. 

This business was the specialty of the town, for many years. From 
small beginnings it grew by degrees to its present importance. The in- 
vention of the cylinder saw made it possible for the business to be done 
on an extensive scale. The Hon. Elisha Murdock, and Capt. Ephraim 
Murdock, availing themselves of tins and other facilities, commenced a 
new era in the wood ware business, which has been followed up by them- 
selves and others to the present time. The statistics of this and other 
branches of business cannot be given for want of" space. It would re- 
quire a volume. For several years, the pail and tub business was con- 
fined to this town, but it is now carried on in many places, east and 
west. Nearly all the machinery, however, for the shops far and near, 
has been made in our machine shops. 

COTTON MILLS. 

The woolen mills have already been referred to, so far as their origin 
is concerned ; and as none are in operation now, nothing farther need 
be said in relation to them. There are two cotton factories now in suc- 
cessful business, — one in Spring Village, and one at B. D. Whitney's 
dam. The origin and history of the first has already been given. The 
second was built in 1853-4, is 112 feet long and 45 feet wide, and is 
two stories in height, besides the attic. The Mill is rented by N. D. 
White & Co., and is under the superintendence of Dea. Windsor N. 
White. It contains 2,500 spindles. 

MACHINE SHOPS. 

The first machine shop, properly so called, was started by Col. WilL 
iam Murdock, in 1839. It was thought quite wonderful that he had a 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 373 

machine with which he could shave iron. Probably his shop has turned 
out the greatest variety of work of any in town. 

Baxter D. Whitney was engaged with him several years. In 1846, 
he built the railroad dam, and set up a saw-mill and machine shop where 
his extensive establishment now stands. The mill and dam were car- 
ried away by the flood of 1852. Since then all the other buildings, in- 
cluding foundry, wooden-ware shop, factory, carriage-makers and black- 
smith shops, have been erected. Mr. Whitney makes machinery for 
working in wood, and his machines arc widely and favorably known. 
The London " Engineering," in 1§57, in an article upon American ma- 
chinery, says that the English workmen prefer the American machines 
to those made in any other country, and that Mr. Whitney's are the 
best. 

In 1860, Messrs, Goodspeed & Wyman purchased the property now 
in their possession, and began the manufacture of machines for making 
wooden ware. In addition they have done an extensive business in 
sewing machines. Mr. John D. Folsom has followed the same business 
for several years, sending out sewing machines in large number to dis- 
tant parts of the country. Others have, at times, undertaken this busi- 
ness, though not with equal success. 

The above are the main branches of mechanical business in the town, 
though a great variety of articles is made in smaller establishments. 
Most of these, however have been referred to in tracing the history of 
mill-sites. As this volume is not a directory of business, more space 
cannot be given to a subject the full treatment of which would require 
a book of quite respectable size. It is enough to say that the Measures 
of Dea. Hyde, the Faucets of Messrs. Charles A. & Sumner Loud, the 
Sleds and Carts of Mr. Ezra Hyde, the Boxes and Beds of the 
Messrs. Chase, the Mops, etc., of Mr. M. T. Nash, add much to the 
annual production of the place. 

STORES. 

The first store in Winchendon, as already stated, was opposite the 
Nichols tavern, in the corner of Mrs. Connor's lot. It was a small af- 
fair. Stores were opened on the Common not long after. Among the 
traders then were Bemsly Lord, Holman & Bruce, Joseph Jewett, Reed 
& Walker, Phinehas Whitney, Atkins Morton and Cornelius Ray- 
mond. 



374 HISTORY OF WlNCHENDOtf. 

The first store in the Village was kept by Thomas, son of Hon. Abel 
Wilder. This was opened about seventy years ago. After him came 
Robert Ruggles, Stillman Flint, Mr. Greenwood, Atkins Morton, Per- 
kins & Putnam, Charles Tolman, Obadiah Walker, Luther Richardson, 
Ephraim, Jr., and Elisha Murdock, C. R. Whitman, George Brown, 
Levi Peck, Hand & Merrill, Moses Hancock, H. Harwood, J. M. Hey- 
wood, Joseph Murdock, Watson Monroe, William and Levi Brooks, 
and William Brown, 2d, besides those now doing business here. Mr. 
A. Whitney, Jr., began trading more than thirty years ago, and contin- 
ues in the business still, with his son 4 George. Mr. Whitney, Messrs. 
A. B. Smith, C. C. Parker, 'Silas Raymond, Wyman & Mason, C. L. 
Carter, and others in various branches, have been and are still doing 
a large business. I. J. Dunn and Messrs. George and Calvin Bryant, 
do an extensive business in the grocery line. George S. Dodge has car- 
ried on the business of an apothecary for several years ; William Pol- 
lard, Almon Mann, Horace Whitcomb and C. H. Tarbell, have kept 
shoe stores. Wm. H. Wood & Co. deal in flour, grain, &c, and Messrs. 
Doane, Miller & Hyde keep a fine market. The jewellers have been 
Messrs. Wm. C. Nichols, A. J. Parker, H. C. & G. H. Murdock and 
George F. Barr ; the harness makers have been Messrs. M. B, and 
L. S. Felton, and Wetherhcad & Sinclair ; and Jonas A. Carruth deals 
in clothing. The millinery establishments of Mrs. Ellen A. Converse, 
and Mrs. C. P. Fairbanks, are well known in all the vicinity. 

There was a store at Spring Village at different times. Mr. John 
D. Dunbar, and Rev. Joseph Watson, in his later years, kept dry goods 
and groceries for sale. 

The traders in Watcrvillc have been Moses Hancock, James Marsh ? 
Trask W. Ray, and W. H. Whittemore. About fifty years ago, Dr. 
Pentland had a store near John Cook's. At present there is a large- 
trade in the Village, by which the wants of this and neighboring towns 
are supplied. 

CARPENTERS, BLACKSMITHS, &C. 

The larger part of the houses in the Village have been built by Esq. 
Murdock, Mark Whitcomb, Sidney and Levi N. Fairbank, E. W. Lord, 
A. W. Buttrick, and Raymond & Forristall. 

There was a blacksmith shop, long ago, owned by Jason Bemis, near 
the top of the hill on the road from the Village to the Centre. Col. 
Adams carried on the business on the Common. His sons Benjamin 




First Kfcttosi&l Bart. 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 375 

and Oliver, wrought at the same trade. Most of this business in the 
Village, during the last thirty-five years, has been in the hands of Oli- 
ver Adams, Daniel and Salmon Scott, Harvey Wyman and Luke Hale. 
J. C. Lynch is a carriage maker, and Levi Flagg aids in promoting gen- 
eral cleanliness by making a large quantity of soap. The workers and 
dealers in tin, copper, stoves, &c, at different times, have been Wm. and 
S. Knapp, E. T. Russell, J. P. Barber and A. P. Bateman. Bricks 
in large quantity, are made by S. Chamberlain and Wm. Brown. But 
this catalogue must have an end. 

AMOUNT OF BUSINESS. 

It is not possible to give the exact amount of manufacturing business 
in the town annually. The follo-\ving derived from an authentic source, 
is given as an approximation. The annual product of wood ware, and 
things of that nature, amounts probably to the value of $400,000. The 
cotton fabrics are not less than §300,000. Machinery of various kinds, 
amounts to nearly $150,000. Other manufactures will swell the sum 
total to $1,000,000. To this must be added the products of the soil, 
the profits of trade, &c. 

CORPORATIONS. 
WINCHENDON SAVINGS BANK, 

This was organized in 1854. Hon. Elisha Murdock was the first 
President, Sullivan B. Ball, Treasurer, and Calvin R. Whitman, Clerk 
Quite a large amount has been deposited in the bank, from the begin- 
aing. The present deposits are not less than $175,000. The follow- 
ing is the present board of officers : E. Murdock, Jr., President ; Al- 
vah Godding, Wm. Brown, 2d, J. H. Fairbank, M. T. Nash, N. D. 
White, and W. L. Woodcock, Vice Presidents ; Silas Raymond, Ir- 
ving E. Weston, Seth Tucker, O. Mason, Henry Whitcomb, B. Ellis, 
S. Fairbank, B. D. Whitney, C. C. Alger, and I. M. Murdock, Trus- 
tees ; G. H. Whitney, Auditor ; B. Ellis, Secretary, pro tern ; Charles 
L. Beals, Treasurer. 

WINCHENDON NATIONAL BANK. 

This institution was started in 1864, as a National Bank, with a cap- 
ital of $100,000. The next year it was increased to $150,000. John 
Henry Fairbank has been President, and Charles L. Beals, Cashier, 
from the beginning. The first Board of Directors was as follows, viz : 
J. H. Fairbank, O. Mason, Sidney Fairbank, George Brown, I. E. 
Weston, J. B. Sawyer, and William Smith, of Templeton. The fol- 
lowing changes have been made : Messrs. Charles J. Rice, and N. D. 
White, take the places of Messrs. Brown and Weston. 



376 HISTORY Otf WlftCHENDOtf. 



CHAPTER XXV. — FIRE DEPARTMENT, 

" Then came 
The hollow sound of rushing flame ; 
And from each loophole flashing light, 
A spout of fire shines ruddy bright, 
And gathering to united glare, 
Streams high into the midnight air." 
Scott. 

SECTION 1. — FIRE WARDS. 

In the early history of the town, no special measures were taken by 
the public in reference to fires. There was little clanger that log cab- 
ins would take fire, and if seasonably discovered, there was no great dif- 
ficulty in extinguishing the flames. When a fire occurred, the family 
exerted themselves to put it out ; and the neighbors, if any were near 
enough to render assistance, hastened to their aid. Perhaps the first 
step in the way of organized co-operation, was the annual choice of Fire 
Wards by the town, and the requirement that families should be sup- 
plied with fire buckets. In many places, every house was required to 
be furnished with a certain number. These were made of leather, were 
always to be in order, and hung up in a particular place, so as to be avail- 
able at once. In other places, ordinary pails were used. It is many, 
years since the town began the practice of choosing fire wards, who have 
been generally selected from the most respected citizens. Their au- 
thority is considerable, and in former times, was exercised more than 
at present. The establishment of a well-organized fire department has 
naturally transferred much of the actual responsibility, in case of fire, 
to the Foreman. The office of fire ward, however, is still important, 
as it is necessary for the town's authority to be represented on such 
occasions. 

SECTION 2. — THE PILOT. 

The first fire company in this town, was formed sometime between 
1830 and 1835. The meeting which stands first in the Record Book 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDOF. 



37T 



of the Co., bears date, July 7th, 1835. At this meeting a committee 
was chosen " to settle accounts of 1834," showing that the organization 
was in existence as early as that year. The officers chosen at the meet- 
ing in July, 1835, were as follows : Ephraim Murdoch, Jr., Captain ; 
Joshua Keith, 2d, Mate ; Benjamin F. Eddy, Clerk ; Mark Whitcomb, 
Sumner Wyman, Calvin R. Whitman, Engine Committee. The annual 
meeting was held on the first Tuesday in April. It was a rule that 
" the meetings for drill shall be at the Engine House on the first Mon- 
day of each month from May to October inclusive, and the time for roll 
calling shall be in May, at 5 o'clock, A. M. ; in June, July and August, 
at 4 o'clock, A. M. ; in September, at 5 1-2 o'clock, A. M. ; in Octo- 
ber, at 6 o'clock, P. M." That was taking " time by the forelock." 

The burning of Col. B. Adams' blacksmith shop is said to have 
aroused the people to the necessity of having an engine and a company 
to work it. The money for purchasing the Pilot was raised by sub- 
scription. The engine was used at a fire for the first time, as well as 
can be ascertained at this late day, when the house of Asa Stearns was 
burned in 1834, or 35. It was not a very powerful machine, according 
to the present standard, but with an efficient company, it did good ser- 
vice on many occasions. 

It may gratify some to read the names of the first members. The 
following were on the roll in 1835. 



Elisba Murdock, 
Sumner Wyman, 
Charles Smith, 
Joshua Keith, 2d, 
Benj. F. Eddy, 
Oliver Adams, 
Amasa Whitney, Jr., 
Isaac Taylor, Jr., 
Emery Carriel, 
Samuel Walton, 
Charles Murdock, 
Calvin R. Whitman, 
Alonzo Merriam, 
Mark Whitcomb, 
Isaac Pollard, 
Joel M. Heywood, 
Harry Pitkin, 
Ephraim Murdock, 
William Murdock, 



John Fitts, 
Milton S. Morse, 
Levi Foskett, 
Levi Woodbury, 
Leander Sampson, 
Stephen Burpee, 
Hiram S. Newton, 
D. J. Goodrich, 
Moses H. Ross, 
Seth Tucker, Jr., 
Edwin Bradbury, 
M. T. Nash, 
Elihu L. Morse, 
Joseph Smith, 
A. C. Fay, 
George W. Morse, 
William Russell, 
William Wilder. 



Total, 



378 HISTOKY OF wixchendou. 

The following officers were chosen in 1836, viz : William Pollard, 
Capt. ; Oliver Adams, Mate ; Calvin R. Whitman, Clerk ; William 
Murdock, Amasa Whitney, Jr., Harry Pitkin, Engine Committee. The 
next year, the Captain, Mate and Clerk, were Ephraim Murdock, Mil- 
ton S. Morse and William Murdock. It is not necessary to give the 
officers' names from year to year. The following gentlemen besides 
those named above, acted as Captain at different periods, several of them 
holding the office repeatedly : Milton S. Morse, Baxter D. Whitney, 
Marvin T. Nash, Sumner Wyman, Harvey Wyman. 

The Records of the Pilot Company close in 1847, but the engine has 
been used at fires, since that time, on various occasions. It was sold 
in 1867, for $23. 

SECTION 3. THE ALERT COMPANY. 

This Company had its origin in a paper dated January 27, 1851, and 
signed by a number of citizens who felt the need of an efficient organ- 
ization for extinguishing fires. On the 8th of February, a " meeting 
of those interested in forming an Engine Company to be attached to 
Engine No. 1, of this town, was held at the Passenger house of the 
Cheshire Railroad Co., at 7 o'clock, P.M." William Murdock wa3 
chairman, and Nathaniel Gilmore, clerk. A Constitution and By-laws 
were adopted, and the following officers were chosen : James P. T. Bur- 
bank, Foreman ; Edwin S. Merrill, First Assistant ; Sidney Fairbank, 
Second Assistant ; William Murdock, Treasurer ; M. B. Felton, Clerk. 

A committee was chosen to petition the Selectmen to insert an arti- 
cle in the " warrant for the March meeting, asking the town to appro- 
priate a sum of money sufficient to purchase a Suction Engine." The 
Selectmen complied with the request, and in accordance with the Stat- 
utes, appointed certain persons as " Engine-men to be attached to En- 
gine No. 1." 

The Engine was purchased by subscription, but the town, at the 
March meeting, in 1852, appropriated $100 for purchasing " Hose 
for Alert Engine Co.," and $67.75 for Engine-men. In 1853, the ex- 
pense of the Fire Department, including hose and couplings, repairs of 
Engine, and money paid to men, amounted to $395.77. The next 
year, " Engine Hose, $200." The expenses from year to year need 
not be given. The citizens have ever been proud of the Alert Com- 
pany, and by vote of the town or private subscription, have evinced 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDOff. 379 

their appreciation of its services. It has always been very serviceable 
at fires ; promptly on the ground, and both alert and skilled to do ef* 
fective duty. It was noticed on the first occasion, when the Co. bat- 
tled with a considerable fire — by which Mr. N. H. Hand's store and 
the barracks were burned, — that the noise and confusion formerly at- 
tendant upon fires was superseded by stillness and order. The contrast 
was striking;. 

This Company has competed with others, on various occasions, and 
has always come off with honor. The first contest was at Keene, N. 
H., on the 10th of September, 1857. The Alert Engine was manned 
by sixty-eight men, some of them volunteers. Twelve companies en- 
gaged in the trial, and the third prize was won by the Alert. The Del- 
uge, of Claremont, N. H., threw to the height of 152 feet. The Frank- 
lin, of Greenfield, 151 feet, and the Alert, 150 1-2 feet. It was a 
close struggle. The day was windy, and the height reached was far 
less than the Co. had achieved at home. A few days before this trial, 
the Engine threw water five or six feet over the Liberty Pole, which 
was 173 feet in height. The third prize was $50. 

The next trial was at Manchester, N. EL, on the 15th of September, 
1859, when fifty-three companies were on the ground, and competed 
for the prizes. They came from many of the principal cities and towns 
of New England, as Boston, Providence, Worcester, Portland, Lynn, 
Portsmouth, Charlestown, Cambridge, Lowell, Chelsea, Nashua, Law- 
rence, Roxbury, Dover, &c. The Alert Engine surpassed all other 
companies ; the water thrown by it reaching the height of 170 feet, 
while the next attained to 166 feet only. The highest prize was $100. 
The following extract from the Record book — W. C. Hunt then clerk 
— gives the finale of this effort. 

" Friday evening, Sept. 10th, 1859. On the Alert's arrival at Winchen- 
don, the citizens of this place gave us a most cordial welcome. We were re- 
ceived at the depot by the Niagara Co. No. 2, when a torchlight procession 
was formed, headed by the Keene Cornet Band, and as we marched through 
the principal streets, we were greeted by the citizens, amid illuminated houses, 
bonfires, torches and cheers. We then proceeded to the American House, 
where a good supper awaited us, which was rounded off by a number of ad- 
dresses and congratulatory speeches." 

On the 15th of September, 1860, the water was thrown about twenty 
feet above the top of the pole, or about 207 feet above the water in the 



380 HISTORY OF WINCHENDOtf. 

reservoir. The Co. were getting ready for a contest at Templeton. 
This trial came off on Templeton Common, September 21, 1860, when 
eight companies from the vicinity competed. The Alert reached the 
height of 168 3-4 feet ; the next highest was 148 feet. The prize was 
a Banner. The playing being over, the Record says : 

" After which the companies were ordered to form a hollow square, to hear 
the report of the several trials, at which time the Prize Banner was presented 
to the Alert Engine Co. No. 1, Winchendon, by Col. Henry Smith, with a 
powerful speech, which was responded to by Mr. I. M. Murdoek, in behalf 
of the Foreman." 

The company is still in a flourishing condition, under the command 
of a favorite captain, — Charles Forristall — with full ranks. The Fore- 
men, at different times, have been as follows : James P. T. Burbank, Ed- 
win S. Merrill, Charles E. Forristall, John D. Howard, A. P. Bateman. 

Doubtless the following extract from the Records — D. L. Morrill, 
Esq., Clerk— *-will remind many of the earlier members of the company 
of a pleasant day when- they contributed much to the enjoyment of the 
people, while partaking themselves in the general joy. 

CELEBRATION DAY. 

" The Company met at the Engine House, in full uniform, Foreman com- 
manding. The Company was here joined by the Waterville Brass Band, un- 
der direction of Col. J. Merriam, Chief Marshal, by whom they were accom- 
panied to the Academy yard, where a procession was formed of the schools in 
town, and the citizens. The procession then moved under the escort of the 
Company, to the island of E. Murdoek, Jr., where it is estimated there was 
an audience of more than 2000 persons. Numerous speeches were made, and 
refreshments furnished. The exercises in the grove were closed about 4, 
P. M.j after which the Company, with Band, paraded through the streets, 
and worked the Engine from the reservoir in front of the Academy building, 
greatly to the satisfaction and amusement of the assembled crowd, till 6, P. M. 
At 7, the members of the Company, with their ladies, partook of a bountiful 
supper, provided by Messrs. Whitcomb, Fairbank & Mason, at their hotel. 
Songs and sentiments succeeded, and at 8 1-2, P. M., the members and ladies 
separated, and repaired to witness the Fire Works under direction of Mr. T. 
Saul, which were very brilliant, and exceeded the expectations of all. The 
members of the Company then dispersed at their leisure." 



HISTORY OP WINCHENDON. 381 

For many years the company was accommodated with an Engine 
house and hall by Capt. E. Murdock, Jr., for which the town gave him 
a vote of thanks. 

Thirty-seven members entered the public service in putting down the 
rebellion. Their names will appear in the list of those who went from 
this town to the war. They had the hearty approbation of those who 
remained at home. The company was proud of their achievements, 
and rendered honor to those who fell in the field, or died from wounds, 
hardships and exposure. They rendered needed aid to comrades who 
suffered for the public good. In this connection it should be added that 
their Records contain grateful mention of a donation of $100, received 
from Capt. E. Murdock, Jr., for the benefit of these soldiers or their 
surviving friends. 

SECTION 3. — THE NIAGARA COMPANY. 

This company belonged to Waterville. It was organized in the year 
1855, and after twelve years of service, was disbanded in 1867. The 
first meeting with a view to forming a company, was held in the Water- 
ville school-house, on the 31st of March, 1855. William L. Woodcock 
presided, and Stillman Safford acted as Clerk. At a meeting, April 
2, a committee chosen at the previous meeting reported a Constitution, 
which was adopted, after which the following officers were chosen : Will- 
iam -Towne, Foreman; William L. Woodcock, First Assistant; L. B. 
Piper, Second Assistant ; Charles Hyde, Clerk ; Adam French, Treas- 
urer. The stewards were L. Taylor and S. C. Aldrich. There were 
changes in the course of the year, by which Mr.C. Hyde became Treas- 
urer, and Mr. J. Hastings became 2d Assistant. 

The Engine, named the Niagara, was purchased by subscription. In 
1857, the town paid $112.72, for repairing the engine. In 1859, the 
town appropriated $633.29, for Engine Hose. It is supposed that the 
Niagara had its share of this necessary apparatus. The officers for the 
second year, were William L. Woodcock, William H. Grant, Charles 
J. Piper, James A. Wood, including the stewards, Levi Taylor and 
Ozro Hancock. In the course of 1857, Mr. Stillman Safford was cho- 
sen Clerk, and he held that office during the entire existence of the com- 
pany, except brief intervals, when S. C. Aldrich, D. Boyce, J. B. Burke 
and J. Leary kept the Records. These Records, if not filled with de- 



382 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 

scriptions of eventful scenes, present some very amusing specimens of 
humor. 

The successive Foremen were William L. Woodcock, Jairus Hast- 
ings, Samuel Page, William H. Grant, Amasa Aldrich, Samuel Ken- 
dall, Francis D. Perry. 

The company was always, according to its motto, " ready for action," 
and rendered very prompt and efficient service, in case of fire, wheth- 
er in Waterville, or in other parts of the town. And at various trials, 
a3 at Jaffrey, Keene, &c, it came off honorably, if not with the high- 
est prizes. The spirit by- which this company was sustained so long, is 
highly creditable to the members, and the citizens of Waterville, who 
gave their encouragement ; and it is matter of regret that an organi- 
zation capable of such energetic service, which is at times, almost in- 
dispensable, has disbanded. Quite a proportion of the members en- 
tered the public service, and some fell in the sacred cause of freedom. 



HISTORY OF WTNCHENDON. 383 



CHAPTER XXVI. — LIBRARIES AND LY- 
CEUMS. 

" Books are not absolutely dead things, but do contain a progeny of life in 

them to be as active as that soul was whose progeny they are ; nay, they do 

preserve, as in a vial, the purest efficacy and extraction of that living intellect 

that bred thern. Unless wariness be used, as good almost kill a man as kill 

a good book ; who kills a man, kills a reasonable creature, God's image ; but 

he who destroys a good book, kills reason itself, kills the image of God, as it 

Were in the eye." 

Milton. 

" The grand debate, 

The popular harangue, the tart reply, 

The logic, and the wisdom, and the wit, 

And the loud laugh— I loug to know them all." 

COWPER. 
SECTION 1. — THE FIRST LIBRARIES. 

The first settlers of the town were not a literary people. Boots were 
few and periodicals almost unknown. The successive ministers had cer- 
tain works which were necessary in studying the Bible in the original 
tongues, besides a moderate number of theological, controversial and 
miscellaneous books. Through their preaching, the intellectual as well 
as moral and religious tone of the public mind was elevated. They were 
often styled, in the Records, " teachers of morality, piety and religion." 
They were in the habit also of giving instruction in different branches, 
to the youth, either singly or in classes. In Mr. Stimpson's Book of 
Accounts, there is a charge for teaching Arithmetic to some youth whose 
wants the schools did not meet. In former times, the ministers fitted 
the boys for College, though very little in that line was done in Win- 
chendon. Perhaps the two ministerial sons of Br. Israel Whiton were 
the first who began a classical education in this place. 

The physicians Jiad their collection of books which were necessary 
in their profession. The same was true of the lawyers — Messrs. New- 
comb and Henshaw — in later years. Doubtless there were works on 
their shelves pertaining to history, philosophy and the belles lettres ; but 



384 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 

the number was not large. In scattered farm houses there would be 
found stray volumes of poetry — Young, Thomson, Cowper, &c., — but 
there was, of course, nothing to be compared with the abundance of 
books, magazines and papers, which are now to be seen in all our homes. 
And it may be said farther, that there was scarcely any of the trash 
which now enfeebles rather than invigorates the minds of the readers. 
The first library for circulation was in the Centre. "When it was be- 
gun is not known to the present generation. It was kept for a while 
by Dea. Joshua Smith, and afterwards by Mark Whitcomb. It was 
sold about forty-two years since. The next collection of books belong- 
ing to a company, was in the Village, and was kept for many years in 
the house of Ephraim Murdock, Esq. It is supposed by those who re- 
member this library, that it was started about the year 1810. This 
continued in existence until somewhere near 1825, when it was sold by 
auction. There were from 150 to 175 volumes in the collection. Some- 
time between 1830 and 1835, another library was commenced, which 
was for a long series of years, under the care of Mark Whitcomb, Esq. 
This contained between 200 and 300 volumes, some of which were works 
of value. The Family Library series well known in the last generation, 
was in the collection. This library, after a career of usefulness, fol- 
lowed in the way of its predecessors, and was scattered by sale at auc- 
tion, a little more than twenty years since. 

SECTION 2. — THE TOWN LIBRARY. 

The public library owes its origin to private liberality. On the even- 
ing of December 6, 1850, the writer gave a lecture in the hall of the 
Academy, on the subject of Reading. The lecture closed in the words 
following. 

" There is then, money enough, if it can only be got at ; and it can be had, 
just as soon as our young gentlemen take the same interest in reading, and in 
a library, that they do in other things. May we not hope that such a time 
will come ? May we not hope that the time has already arrived, when many 
of this enterprising class are ready to commence the enterprise ? But surely 
the burden ought not to be thrown upon them ; nor would it be. I am not 
authorized to speak for any man, but I feel sure that there are ladies and gen- 
tlemen in this place, who will readily co-operate in establishing among us a 
well-selected library, and in that way open up to our youth, of either sex, a 
fountain of improvement and of happiness ; an inexhaustible spring of the pur- 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 



385 



est, richest nutriment for the immortal minds of the youth of this generation, 
and of the many generations that are to come." 

At the close of the address, Ira Russell, M. D., rose and proposed 
that immediate measures be taken to establish a library. The motion 
was passed without opposition, and a committee was chosen to raise a 
subscription. At the same time, it was determined to form a literary 
association for general improvement. A corporation was formed un- 
der the General Statute, and adopted at a meeting held on the 18th 
of February, 1851, of which meeting the following is the record. 

" Academy Hall. 

Meeting was called to order by D. L. Morrill, Esq., in pursuance to a war- 
rant which was read. 

On Motion, William L. Lincoln was chosen Clerk pro tern. 

Heard the report of the committee appointed to present a Constitution for 
this Association, which was read by A. P. Marvin, Chairman. 

Voted that the Constitution be taken up, article by article. 

After some discussion on the part of several gentlemen present, it was vo- 
ted to adopt the following Constitution." 

Then follows the Constitution, after which the dames of the first of- 
ficers are recorded. They are as follows : 

" President, Elisha Murdock ; Vice President, Calvin R. Whitman; Clerk, 
E. S. Merrill ; Treasurer, Amasa Whitney, Jr. ; Executive Committee, Ira 
Russell, Orlando Mason, Wm. L. Lincoln, Henry Perley and Ebenezer But- 
ler; Library Committee, A. P. Marvin, B. 0. Tyler, E. Murdock, Jr., D. 
L. Morrill and Alvah Godding." 

Mr. Merrill declined serving, and H. Harwood was chosen Clerk. 

The following was the result of the effort to raise a subscription for 
the purchase of books. The condition of payment was that $300 should 
be raised. Col. William Murdock procured the subscriptions. 



Elisha Murdock, 


$30 00 


Geo. Brown, 


$5 00 


Milton S. Morse, 


15 00 


Joel M. Heywood, 


5 00 


Wm. Murdock, 


15 00 


Orlando Mason, 


5 00 


B. 0. Tyler, 


15 00 


M. B. Felton, 


5 00 


Alvah Godding, 


15 00 


Wm. Knapp, 


5 00 


D. L. Morrill, 


10 00 


Geo. B. Raymond,'] 


2 00 


H. Harwood, » 


10 00 


Wm. L. Lincoln, 


5 00 


Sidney Fairbanks, 


10 00 


Chas. E. Forristall, 


2 00 


E. Murdock, Jr., 


30 00 


A. P. Marvin, 


5 00 



25 



386 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 



Oman Hoar, 


$3 00 


Smyrna Greaton, 


$2 00 


B. D. Whitney, 


5 00 


Leander Harfcwell, 


1 00 


Wra. Beanian, 


3 00 


Amasa Whitney, Jr., 


3 00 


J. M. Doane, 


2 00 


Calvin R. Whitman, 


10 00 


Reuben Hyde, 


3 00 


Leander Leland, 


1 00 


Joseph Merriam, 


2 00 


Wm. W. Whitney, 


2 00 


B. R. Day, 


2 00 


S. S. Cooledge, 


3 00 


Andrew Parker, 


1 00 


M. D. Raymond, 


1 00 


E. S Merrill, 


5 00 


E. W. Lord, 


2 00 


S. W. Fairbank, 


2 00 


A. W. Buttrick, 


2 00 


E. W. Weston, 


5 00 


Maynard Partridge, 


2 00 


Ira Russell, 


10 00 


Seth Brown, 


1 00 


C. C. Parker, 


1 00 


Theodore Reynolds, 


2 00 


Selah Lovejoy, 


2 00 


David Caswell, 


2 00 


Bethuel Ellis, 


2 00 


Elisha Hyde, 


1 00 


A. S. Kimball, 


2 00 


Joel Hyde, 


2 00 


Henry Perley, 


3 00 


H. M. Heywood, 


2 00 


Elisha Beaman, 


5 00 


S. A. Parker, 


1 00 


Grover S. Whitney, 


2 00 


Walter Conant, 


1 00 


Franklin Heywood, 


2 00 


Amos Knowlton, 


2 00 


John Hyde, 


1 00 


Harvey Wyman, 


5 00 



The design of the organization, which was styled " The Winchendon 
Scientific and Litenfty Association," included more than the gathering 
of a library. The Constitution provided for Discussions, Lectures, and 
Evening Schools for young men. This last part of the design was nev- 
er carried out. The discussions which took place in the town hall dur- 
ing the winter months for several years, are still remembered with in- 
terest by many who attended them. They were conducted with ability 
and courtesy. Several courses of lectures were provided by the exec- 
utive committee. The tickets sometimes more than paid the expenses, 
though not in every instance. Besides lectures from several citizens 
of the town, quite a number were delivered by distinguished speakers 
from abroad. Among these may be mentioned Messrs. Beecher, Em- 
erson, Whipple, Holmes, Bp. Clark, Alger, Starr King, Parker, Phillips, 
Richardson of Worcester, and Dr. Jackson of Boston, who gave a 
course on Geology. Some of the lectures were strictly scientific, as 
on Astronomy, Geology, &c, but the larger part were on literary or his- 
torical subjects, or topics of the day. 

The library however was what gave permanent value to the Associ- 
ation, and great care was used in selecting the books. The following 
General Rules in relation to the library, were adopted by the Associa- 
tion, in accordance with the recommendation of the library committee. 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 387 

" 1st. The design is not to form a complete library in any of its depart- 
ments immediately ; but to lay the foundations of a good one in the various 
departments of History, Biography, Poetry, Essays, Travels, &c. The in- 
tention of the founders must be filled out by periodical additions. 

2d. It is considered important to exclude all sectarian works, and all those 
which openly or covertly attempt to undermine the principles of Christian mo- 
rality and religion. 

3d. The Constitution provides that no book shall be purchased, or received 
as a gift, for the use of the library, unless it is approved by a majority of the 
whole committee." 

The money was spent in purchasing books, and a book case, and the 
library was opened, first in the " Barracks," and then in a room over 
the store of Amasa Whitney, Jr. D. L. Morrill. Esq., was the first 
librarian. He was succeeded by Mr. Whitney, and by Dr. A. B. 
Hoyt. The books then passed into the care of Mrs. Calista P. Fair- 
banks, who was librarian for a term of five years. The library was 
kept in her parlor. In 1862, Mr. George S. Dodge was appointed 
librarian, and he kept the books in a room at the rear of his apotheca- 
ry's store in the Union block. 

The library was enlarged, from time to time, by judicious selections, 
and as means were provided by gifts, fines, assessments and fairs. In 
the meantime an Agricultural Library had been formed by subscription. 
This contained about one hundred and thirty volumes of standard works 
in that department. In the year 1865, an arrangement was made by 
which these volumes were added to the library of the Association. At 
a meeting held on the 16th of January, 1867, it was voted " to present 
the library to the town at the next March meeting, provided the town 
will provide for its maintenance and enlargement and proper keeping 
for the accommodation of the readers of the town." This was done ac- 
cordingly, and the library passed into the possession of the town. And 
as the town is authorized, by a special law, to appropriate money for 
the purpose of founding and enlarging public libraries, it is to be hoped 
that the library established by the Association, will become more val- 
uable and useful than it could be while in private hands. In commen- 
cing a library, the town is authorized to appropriate one dollar for every 
ratable poll, and ifl continuing it, half a dollar for every ratable poll, 
annually. The library of the town now contains more than fifteen 
hundred volumes, the greater number of which are works of permanent 
value. The Trustees of the library, chosen annually by the town, are 



388 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 

in 1868, Messrs. Isaac M. Murdock, William Pentecost, Windsor N. 
White, George S. Dodge and George A. Litchfield. Mrs. Wheeler 
Doland is the librarian. 

SECTION 3. — OTHER LIBRARIES. 

The North Congregational Parish Library was begun in the 
year 1847. It originated in a proposition made by the pastor to his 
congregation on a Sabbath when preparations were making for the an- 
nual contribution for benevolent objects. His su ggestion was, that at 
every annual subscription for benevolent societies, in the month of May, 
there should be a column for the Parish Library. Each one was to 
give as he might feel at the time. The library was to be in the pas- 
tor's study, and though any member of the congregation might use the 
books, it was expected that the parish would derive its chief advantage 
from them through the mind and heart of the minister. The sugges- 
tion was favorably received, and from that date, every year has added 
a few choice volumes to the parish library. It contains the works of 
the chief New England divines, with those of Calvin, Turretin, Robert 
Hall, and Neander, and those of other distinguished authors in the old 
world. Milton's prose writings, Robinson's Palestine, Story on the Con- 
stitution, and Morell on the History of Philosophy, enrich the collection. 
By judicious nursing it may grow to be a very valuable library, just 
such a one as would draw hither a man earnest to feed his people with 
knowledge of divine things. 

The Sabbath School Libraries belonging to the several churches 
in the town, are quite large, and many of the books have more than a 
transient value. These libraries are in a constant process of change. 
After the volumes are read, they are generally given to Sabbath Schools 
in other places. The number of the volumes in the various Sabbath 
School libraries cannot be given, but probably it is not less than fifteen 
hundred. 

A Common School library was kept in Spring Village, several years, 
but was finally scattered. 

In addition it may be said, that of the buying of " many books there 
is no end." Besides the libraries of professional men, — ministers, law- 
yers and doctors — which contain the works necessary in the professions, 
most of our houses are supplied, in different measure, with useful or en- 
tertaining works. 




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I 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 389 



CHAPTER XXVII.— THE VILLAGES. 



" Sweet was the sound when oft at evening's close, 
Up yonder hill the village murmur rose ; 
There, as I passed with careless steps and slow, 
The mingling notes came softened from below." 

Goldsmith. 

the centre or common. 

For fifty years after the incorporation of the town, there was no vil- 
lage within its hounds except at the Centre. The fact that it was the 
central point in the town, and the location of the meeting-house, secured 
a small collection of dwellings. The minister, the traders, one or more, 
at different times, the tavern keeper, the blacksmith and the doctor, 
with three or four farmers, made up the little settlement. There are 
now eight or ten houses on or near the Common. Probably there has 
not been a less number at any time during the last eighty years. In 
the <days when numerous teams wended their way over the hill, and the 
tavern was haunted by the quidnuncs of the town, as well as by trav- 
elers ; when two stores attracted purchasers, and all the cattle and hor- 
ses were taken by turn to the blacksmith ; when the room of the Jus- 
tice of the Peace was thronged by the crowd who often met at the trial 
of some petty malefactor, and the doctor and minister, and even the 
lawyer, were sought by those needing advice and counsel, the old Cen- 
tre was quite a busy place. But this is all changed now, and the quiet 
of a perpetual Sabbath reigns there. Yet it is a pleasant, healthful 
spot, and the time may come when men doing business in the villages 
will choose it for their home, and as a suitable place for the rearing of 
their children. 

THE VILLAGE, OR WINCHENDON. 

What has in past times been known as Morse's, or Winchendon, or 
North Village, is now styled either the Village, or Winchendon. The 



390 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 

latter is the proper designation, as it contains half the population of the 
town, has the only Post Office, all the stores and places of business but 
one or two, and is the real centre of the town. On the map accompa- 
nying this volume, it is styled Winchendon. 

The first step in the history of this Village was the erection of a mill 
about one hundred and eight years ago. It was voted on the 30th of 
November, 1758, by the Proprietors, " that for encouragement, two 
dollars be granted on each original right, to any person or persons that 
shall undertake to build a grist-mill in said township, for ten years, and 
one hundred acres of land with the stream." Mr. Bartholomew Pear- 
son or Parsons, father of Richard Parsons, put up the mill, where now 
stands the establishment of Goodspeed & Wyman. The dam was be- 
low the present site, the road crossed the dam, and the mill was not 
far from the shop of the Messrs. Loud. This was done between 1758 
and 1762, because in June of the latter year, it was voted that " sixty 
days highways' work shall be done in building a bridge over the river 
by Mr. Parsons' mill-place." The work was " highway work ;" in oth- 
er words, carting earth on to the dam till it became wide enough for a 
road. 

At the same time it was voted to build a road from Mr. Darling's 
place, — now Henry Keith's — and from the Boynton place, — now the 
Jed. Mor3e farm — to the mill ; and also from the mill to the county road, 
or to the south end of the Common. Thus this mill was the nucleus of 
the Village. A dwelling house was erected where the paint shop now 
stands, close by the pond, on the east side of the road and the north 
side of the pond. From this starting point in 1760, we come down some 
forty-five years, and find seven houses in this neighborhood. 1. Where 
the former counting-room, now Weston's paint shop, stands ; 2. Near 
Horace Wyman's ; 3. Where the Congregational Church now stands ; 
4. Where the " Old Barracks" stood, now covered in part by A. B„ 
Smith's store ; 5. Where Mrs. Caswell lives,, corner of Central and 
Spring streets, and two others, one of them at Dea. Hyde's. In 1831 r 
there were sixteen, houses, including that of Seth Tucker, Sen. The 
road to Mr. Tucker's was very winding, bending half-way down tow- 
ards B. D. Whitney's works, then curving up by Mr. Tucker's, and go- 
ing north, it took a lurch westward as far as thirty rods into the Hon. 
Elisha Murdock's lot ; thence making for Mr. Nutting's. The road 
from Dea. Hyde'&or Paul Boynton' s, came as far as William. Beaman's,, 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 391 

and then turned north into the Fitzwilliam road. The greater part of 
the business in the Village for twenty-five years preceding the above 
date, was done by three men, viz : Ephraini Murdock, Amasa Whit- 
ney and Isaac Morse. The latter owned the tannery and the hotel ; 
Mr. "Whitney carried on the woolen business ; Esq. Murdock built hous- 
es, made sleighs, &c. All of them were large landholders. Their sons 
were now coming forward to take their places, and accelerate the growth 
of the place. 

In 1843, at which time, the author first saw the Village, there were 
forty dwellings here, not including two or three which are now on the 
outskirts. Thus it appears that the increase from 1807 to 1843 had 
been about one house yearly. During the latter part of the period how- 
ever the increase had been more rapid. Several houses had been erect- 
ed which indicated increased attention to convenience and taste. , The 
dwellings of Capt. E. Murdock, Jr., Dr. A. Godding, Hon. Elisha 
Murdock, and Col. William Murdock, were recent. Mr. C. R. Whit- 
man's house was built in that year. At that time there was one Church 
in the Village — the Methodist — one hotel, two mill privileges, one school- 
room, three or four stores and shops, one piano, two shade trees, — one, 
the great elm in front of Esq. Murdock's ; the other a small maple on 
Central street, — and the Academy, then in process of building. There 
were no streets, properly so called, but several roads leading to neigh- 
boring towns. There was but little shrubbery, and garden flowers were 
scarce. The yards and windows of four or five houses on Front street, 
with a few others, here and there, showed signs of taste and the love 
of natural beauty. 

Since then the change has been going on gradually, at the average 
rate of increase of about eight new houses, though the increase has 
not been uniform. In some years only a house or two has been put 
up ; in other years, a dozen or more. There are now in the Village, 
not far from two hundred and fifty dwelling houses, and fifteen hund- 
red people. There are five houses of worship, one of them elegant 
and costly ; three, neat and convenient, and the fifth about to give place 
to a new edifice of larger dimensions. Besides the Academy and the 
school-house, with two apartments, of the former second district, there 
are now the large and finely proportioned school-house in the north part 
of the Village, with space for four rooms, and the new school-house now 
in building, with four large school-rooms, a fine hall for examinations, 



392 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 

a recitation and an apparatus room. There are now three mill dams 
in place of two, with greatly increased power. There is a bank, and 
a town hall. There are twenty or more streets besides the old roads ; 
shade trees, shrubbery, fruit trees, and flowers abound on every side, and 
the dwellings are becoming yearly more tasteful and elegant.* Then 
there was a single piano; there are now not less than thirty, besides ser- 
aphines, cabinet organs and other musical instruments. Some twenty- 
five stores and shops, including dry goods, groceries, millinery, boots and 
shoes, hardware, drugs and medicines, clothing, harness, and jewelry, 
supply in part the wants of the Village and vicinity. Twenty-five years 
ago, the hill-side below Mr. Doane's slaughter-house was a dense tan- 
gle ; now it is a continuation of one of the most beautiful crescent-shaped 
slopes to be seen in a summer's travel. Then the whole works and pond 
of Baxter Whitney, with the exception of the river, was covered with 
a forest ; now there is a fine sheet of water, and numerous buildings, 
full of busy industry. Then the houses were neat and well-painted ; 
now there are several which are superior in architecture and finish. 
The transformation, though gradual, seems to one Avho looks back, and 
takes it in at one. view, almost incredible. But there are yet greater 
changes in the future. The opening of the Cheshire railroad in 1847, 
gave a new impulse to business. The opening of a cross road, and the 
connection with the Vermont and Massachusetts road, in the south part 
of the town, which are inevitable, will cause the Village to enter on a 
new career of prosperity. And when all the water power of the town 
shall be made available, there will be no cause but the want of enter- 
prise on the part of the people, to prevent this place becoming one of 
the largest, busiest, and most beautiful towns in the Commonwealth. 



* In the year 1851, there was a meeting one evening, in the North Congre- 
gational Church. A lecture on "Village Improvements" was delivered, in 
which the lecturer set forth the importance of planting shade and fruit trees 
and shrubbery ; of beautifying the yards and gardens ; and of having a regard 
for correct taste in architecture. A society was formed to carry out these 
suggestions, and though the Association never took any farther action, the 
members and other citizens, caught the spirit of improvement, and immedi- 
ately began the work. Now the streets are lined, and the yards are tilled with 
trees, and among all our neat, convenient dwellings, there is not one which is 
odd in shape, or which offends the eye, while several, as those of George Con- 
verse, Washington Whitney, James Whitman, Orlando Mason and E. Mur- 
dock, Jr., are fine specimens of village architecture. The latter especially, 
while elegant and imposing on the exterior, seems within to combine every 
convenience with cultivated taste. 



HISTORY OF WINCHENBON. 393 

SPRING VILLAGE AND WATERVILLE. 

The origin of these villages has already been given. They are both 
capable of considerable increase. There is a plan under consideration 
for raising the dam of the Monomonauk some ten feet above its present 
level. This would probably double the power in the dry season of the 
year. Moreover, if the proposed railroad from Peterborough shall be 
brought through Spring Village, it will add to its prosperity. Besides 
the increase of business, the Spring would become a place of resort, 
since the facilities for promoting the health and enjoyment of visitors, 
are almost unrivalled. 

Waterville has greater capabilities, inasmuch as it receives water 
from both branches of Miller's river, and including Hydeville, has a 
greater fall. The river descends some sixty or seventy feet in the course 
of half a mile, and there are good building spots the whole distance. 
When the connection between the Village and the railroad in the south 
part of the town is made, Waterville will take a new start, and its three 
or four hundred souls will be multiplied. 

New Boston, Bullardville, and Bobbins or Harrisville, con- 
tain each from half a dozen to a dozen houses. Having only a limited 
water power, there is no probability that either of them will ever in- 
crease like those situated on Miller's river. Perhaps the future will 
see a village at the Murdock mills, and also at the Butler place, as 
the power is great and easily available. 



394 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 



CHAPTER XXVIII.— NOTEWORTHY 
EVENTS. 



" Oh night, 
And storm, and darkness ! ye are wondrous strong." 

Byron. 

" Will all Neptune's ocean wash this blood 
Clear from my hand ? No, this my hand will rather 
The multitudinous seas iucarnadine, 
Making this green one red." 

Shakespeare. 

" A horrid spectre rises to my sight, 
Close by my side, and plain and palpable, 
In all good seeming and close circumstance, 
As man meets man." 

Joanna Baillie. 

In this chapter, various events which almost defy classification, will 
be arranged under the following titles, viz : Frosts, Storms and Tem- 
pests ; Casualties ; Fires ; Homicides ; Suicides ; Superstitions, 
&c. Many of the facts are derived from Mr. Hyde ; others from Dr. 
Whiton, and others still from various sources. Quite a number came 
under the author's own observation. 

SECTION 1. FROSTS, STORMS, TEMPESTS. 

In 1752, there was a snow-storm in which Joshua Priest was frozen 
to death. 

In 1755, the " great earthquake" shook all New England, and pro- 
duced an extraordinary effect on the public mind. The few settlers in 
these woods felt the shock. 

In 1774, there was a hurricane, moving from west to east which 
struck the meeting-house on Ashburnham hill so violently as to move 
it three or four feet rom its foundations. It was furious in this town, 
though there is no record of serious damage. 

The awful cold winter of 1780-81 has been referred to already. 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. . 395 

On the 17th of May, 1794, there was a severe frost. The spring 
had been early, and vegetation was forward. Rye was headed, and 
apples were large as bullets. Everything was killed. This is one of 
the many facts which confirm the saying, that " all attempts at an early 
spring here will prove a failure." 

In the summer of 1795, there was a violent tempest about sun-set. 
Dr. Whiton well remembered " the terrors of the scene." A wild com- 
motion in the clouds, and a roar in the atmosphere, forewarned of its 
approach ; thickening darkness came on fast ; soon the hurricane and 
hail struck the buildings with great fury. The dwelling of Mr. Thorn- 
ton Barrett was unroofed, and the furniture in the chamber scattered 
over adjacent fields ; locks of wool blown from the chamber were found 
adhering to trees miles distant. Some barns were partially unroofed, 
sheds blown over, and a multitude of trees prostrated. This was spe- 
cially severe on the road to Fitzwilliam, where fallen trees bore witness 
to the fury of the storm, many years afterwards. The following even- 
ing was of pitchy darkness, save when vivid flashes of lightning revealed 
for an instant the distant hills and forests. No one was killed, but many 
were frightened ; some with fear that the day of judgment had come. 

In the winter of 1798-9, the weather was extremely cold. The 
snow was very deep. It lay on the ground from the middle of Novem- 
ber into April ; in the woods, till the middle of May. The stage-sleigh 
passed through this town eighteen weeks successively. 

]j%1801, about the 20th of June, a severe frost cut down nearly all 
the grain, and growing crops. 

There was a memorable northeasterly storm in February, 1802. It 
was furious and driving. The snow was dense like small hail. It fell 
to the depth of two feet. People thought that if it had been light, the 
iepth would have been as great as in the " great snow-storm" of 1717, 
that is, six feet. 

The spring of 1804 was cold and backward ; hay was scarce, and 
the cattle were driven to browsing. Trees were felled for that purpose. 
They scarcely lived till grass grew. 

In June, 1806, the total eclipse of the sun filled the inhabitants of 
Winchendon, in common with all who beheld it, with the profoundest 
feelings of admiration and awe. 

In the same season, on a day when the Cavalry Company, under 
command of Capt. Phinehas Whitney, paraded in this town, a fearful 



396 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 

thunder-storm arose. Some of the Co., while on the way home, took 
refuge in a tavern in Templeton. The electric fluid came down. Some 
twelve of them were thrown into a heap in the middle of the room, and 
two were killed. The points of their swords were melted. 

In 1807, on the 30th and 31st of March, and the 1st of April, there 
was the heaviest fall of snow within memory. Rev. Mr. Pillsbury, and 
Dr. Whiton, then a young man, struggled through the snow, to the 
meeting-house, on the Sabbath, sometimes on the top of the wall. No 
one else was there, and they returned in the same way. 

On the 9th of June, 1816, there was a fall of snow. I have heard 
the late Dea. Raymond say that apples and snow were together on the 
trees in his father's orchard. There were frosts at unusual times. The 
whole summer was cold. There was but little fruit, or corn, though 
English grain was good. It was called " poverty yeav." 

The September gale — on the 16th — of this year, blew down many 
acres of timber in the westerly part of the town. 

The next season was also cold, and but little pork was made. As 
mackerel were uncommonly abundant, this was styled "mackerel year." 

From the last of May to the first of September, 1819, there were 
thunder-showers as often as every other day. On the afternoon of the 
Sabbath, August 20, the commotion of the elements was terrific. Clouds 
arose in all quarters of the heavens, and met together. All the artil- 
lery of the skies seemed to be in full play. Many buildings were struck 
by lightning, and consumed. In the evening, fires could be sem in 
various directions. 

In 1821, September 9, there was a fearful hurricane in Athol and 
towns west of this. Fragments of trees and clothing were borne by 
the tempest to Winchendon. No damage was done here. 

The -winter of 1842-3, was noted for snow-storms. The snow came 
early, and did not go off until the last week in April. There were drifts 
in the woods in the middle of May. On the 12th of November, 1843, 
people rode in sleighs to the November election. 

On the 22d of April, 1852, there was a great flood in Miller's river. 
There had been a fall of snow six or eight inches deep ; this was fol- 
lowed by rain till the snow was almost ready to run ; then a warm sun 
came out, and the water rushed down every hill-side into the small 
streams, which poured their tribute into the river. It was rapidly swol- 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 397 

len above its banks, and roared along its bed -with fearful violence. 
Men watched at the dams that night, and about one o'clock in the 
morning of the 22d, the ringing of the alarm bell roused the people. 
Baxter Whitney's dam was beginning to give way. At two the top of 
the old woolen factory dam went off, and the rush of waters carried off 
the Robbins, the Aldrich and the Hyde dams. About six P. M., Mr. 
Whitney's dam, and saw-mill, and the railroad bridge went down with 
a crash, and the debris borne by the rushing flood, swept away the cause- 
way and bridge, on Spring street. The causeway was several feet un- 
der water. Next the bridge and dam by the woolen mill (now Good- 
speed & Wyman's site) were taken up as a feather, and hurled down 
stream with frightful velocity. The accumulated waters and broken 
timbers rushed along, making a clean sweep of all the bridges and dams 
below. Standing on Prospect street, the writer had a clear view of 
the memorable scene. Following the rush towards Waterville, he heard 
the large rocks in the river dashing against each other with a loud noise, 
as they were bowled along by the flood. At the same time, all the 
bridges between the Village and the Ashburnham line, and the Butler 
mill-dam, were destroyed. This was the greatest and most destructive 
flood within the memory of the most aged inhabitants. 

In 1853, on the 27th of August, there was a violent storm. At 
tea-time a thunder-storm came up ; and there was quite a fall of rain. 
Suddenly there was a singular and fearful rumbling, such as is rare- 
ly heard, and which leads one instinctively to seek divine protection. 
Looking from the front door of his residence on Prospect street, the 
author saw that the village was shrouded in darkness, and that a fierce 
tempest was sweeping up the valley. It soon passed over, to the great 
relief of the shuddering people. The tornado first struck Waterville, 
doing much damage to trees, barns and houses, and then tore along up 
the valley of the river, as through a tunnel, and spreading out over the 
Village. Twenty trees in Dea. Hyde's orchard, and eight belonging 
to Joel Hyde were upturned. Many others were prostrated. Chim- 
neys were blown down, three barns were unroofed, the horse-sheds at 
the Methodist meeting-house were demolished, and the spire of the Bap- 
tist meeting-house »was thrown down. 

The morning of January 11, 1859, was the coldest ever known here. 
The mercury in the thermometer fell to 38 degrees below zero. 

The winter of 1865-6, was remarkable for the absence of snow- 



398 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 

storms. Whenever the clouds gathered, the temperature was a few 
degrees above the freezing point, and the moisture came down in rain. 
There was but about a fortnight sleighing all winter, and then the 
earth was only veneered with a thin crust. 

The summer of 18G8 has been as remarkable for extreme heat. 
There were a few very hot days in June. In the early part of July, the 
sun's rays came down with scorching heat. On the 5th, which was 
Sunday, tile thermometer indicated from 95 to 104 degrees in the 
shade, over alarge extent of country. The two next succeeding weeks, 
with the occasional exception of a day, were similar. Hundreds were 
cut down by sun-stroke in different parts of the land. Some were pros- 
trated with the extreme heat, in this town, though none lost their lives. 

SUDDEN DEATHS BY APOPLEXY, HEAT, &C. 

In the night preceding the raising of the meeting-house, in 1792, 
Mr. Bill Hancock died in his bed. 

In 1809, Bartholomew Stearns, Jr., was found dead in the road near 
the house of Capt. John Raymond. He had been reaping, became heat- 
ed, went to the well and drank, and died on his return. 

In November 1818, Enoch Stuart retired in health, but died in the 
night. 

1819, July 1, David Goodridge, 2d, died suddenly in bed. 

In 1823, Peter Parmenter was found dead in his bed. 

1824, September 17, Abzina Cummings died suddenly. 

On the 27th of January, 1829, Paul Stewart fell dead in or near his 
barnyard. 

1831, December 16, Capt. Samuel Baldwin was found dead in his 
bed in the morning. 

June 15, 1832, Andrew Benjamin was found dead, by his daugh- 
ter, in the road near the house of Mr. Cromwell Fisher. 

In this year, John R. Golding fell dead in his house, and an infant 
child of Lydia Golding died suddenly. 

On the 22d of November, Isaac Grout, Jr., was found dead in the 
mowing land of Mr. Luke Rice. He had been missing through the 
night. 

In 1834, Simon Wilder was found dead in his bed, and Mary God- 
dard died in a fit. 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 399 

In 1837, Mrs. Tisdale Howard died very suddenly. 

On the 22d of October, Mrs. John Arba Brooks died in a fit. 

In 1840, a girl died on the road near Spring Village. 

On the 26th of July, 1841, Mrs. Phinehas Parks was found dead 
near the door. She had stepped out to get some fuel. 

In 1842, January 7, A child of Peter Thomas was found dead by 
its mother when she awoke in the night. 

On the 21st of March, Dea. Luther Richardson died instantly in 
John Poor's mill yard. He was a very useful man in the church, in 
the schools, and in the community. 

In this year, Mrs. Samuel Brown, wife of Samuel Brown, Sen., at 
the south end of the town, was found dead in her bed. So was Mrs. 
Carter, mother of Mrs. David Beaman. Jewett B. Darling was found 
dead in his bed in the day-time. 

In 1843, May 14, Phinehas Elwin Parks died suddenly in bed. 
On the same day, Col. Benjamin Adams died suddenly. On the first 
Sabbath in May, he was at meeting to hear the writer's first sermon 
in Winchendon. Preaching the funeral sermon was a severe trial in 
his early ministry. 

On the 19th of June, Capt. Joshua Stoddard, another of those 
whom curiosity led to hear the new minister, died very suddenly. 

On the 11th of August, 1846, Mr. Enoch Wyman's wife died sud- 
denly while at work in the house. 

In 1852, January 7, Enoch Kidder, Esq., died of apoplexy. 

1853, August 3, Benjamin Adams, Jr., died in an apoplectic fit. 

Io 1864, December 1, Mrs. Lucy Whitney, aged nearly 83 years, 
died in the morning before rising. She was stepmother of Hon. Giles 
H. Whitney, a gentlewoman with the ancient courtesy, whom every- 
body loved. 

On the morning of the Sabbath, January 21, 1866, Mr. George 
Brown, a respected citizen, died suddenly, of apoplexy. The people 
heard of the event while on the way to Church. It produced univer- 
sal solemnity and sorrow. 

In 1867, November 5, Mrs. Keziah Evans died instantly of apoplexy. 
On the 18th of the»same month, Mrs. Harriet W. Pierce, daughter of 
the late Amasa Whitney, died suddenly of apoplexy. 

On the 9th of May 1868, about seven in the evening, Mr. Cal- 



400 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 

vin R. Whitman, fell and died instantly, of apoplexy, near his house. 
He was busily at work with a shovel. He died according to his desire, 
as he had often expressed the wish that he might depart in an instant. 
He had " put his house in order," and made every preparation for such 
an event, whenever it might come. He was a man of active temper- 
ament, large brain — weight 64 ounces — and strong, analytic mind. 
Nothing but over-cautiousness hindered him from taking the lead in busi- 
ness and in affairs generally. He was quick to speak, but slow and 
discreet in action. One who knew him intimately for twenty years and 
more, in sorrow and in joy, holds his memory in tender remembrance. 

DEATHS BY ACCIDENTAL DROWNING. 

In April, 1771, in the spring flood, William Oaks and Robert Mof- 
fat were drowned. This event has been spoken of on a preceding page. 
They were in a boat just below the bridge a mile beyond Waterville. 
The boat was upset, the river was high and rapid. They clung to a 
large, low stub, for a while. Mrs. Oaks saw them but could render 
them no help. No neighbors were near. The water was cold, and they 
became chilled till they could hold on no longer. The mother's ago- 
ny, as she saw her boy and his companion swept away, no pen can re- 
cord. 

In July, 1781, a child of Samuel Stimson was drowned in a well, 
nearly opposite Mr. C. Fisher's, on the south side of the road, in the 
lot of Mrs. Connor. 

In 1786, William Brown, son of David, was found dead in a well, 
on the place long occupied by William Brown, Esq., near the Paul 
Raymond farm. He was subject to fits, and it was supposed that he 
went to the well for water, fell in, and was drowned. 

In 1818, July, Cyrus Partridge was drowned in Ashuelot river, at 
Hinsdale, N. H., and was brought the same day to the house of his fath- 
er, in this town. 

On Sunday, December 14, 1825, Henry Holden, aged 24, was re- 
turning home from the New Boston meeting-house, and while crossing 
the ice on Denison lake, broke through. As he went down the third 
time, h<rsaid : " I must die ; Lord, have mercy on my soul." 

In 1834, a child of Mr. Capron, was drowned at Spring 

Village. 

In 1837, a boy aged eleven years, was drowned at Spring Village. 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 401 

On the first of July, 1843, Henry, son of Mr. Harry and Mrs. Mi- 
nerva Pitkin, was drowned in the tannery mill-pond, while bathing. 
He was a bright boy. His funeral was attended in the Methodist 
Church, on Sabbath evening, when the scene was rendered doubly sol- 
emn by a heavy thunder-storm. 

In 1846, August 2, a child of Mr. Moses Foskett was drowned. 

On the 19th of November, 1849, Leander, son of Mr. Joel and Mrs. 
Lavina Hunt, was drowned in the pond near their house. He fell from 
the bridge. 

On the 21st of August, 1851, Frederic P., a little son of Mr. Levi 
N. and Mrs. Calista P. Fairbanks, was drowned in Athol. The pa- 
rents belonged here, and their affliction elicited the sympathy of many 
friends. 

In 1860, February 27, Sarah Ann, a daughter of Mr. B. Talbot, 
was drowned a few rods above the causeway bridge. 

On the 22d December, 1861, a son of Thomas Hughes was drowned. 

Joseph H. Crowley, a little boy was drowned on the 2d of June, 1863. 

In 1866, June 24, Pliny H. Tannant was drowned near Goodspeed 
& Wyman's dam. 

On the 28th day of June, 1868, James B. Gardham, of St. John, 
Canada, was drowned above the railroad dam. Though a comparative 
stranger here, he was esteemed by those who knew him. 

DEATHS BY FALLING TREES, &C. 

The first case of this kind befel the most important man in town, in 
both Church and State, at the time, Dea. Richard Day. He was instant- 
ly killed by the falling of a tree, near the corner of the road northeast of 
Capt. G. Alger's. This was on the third of May, 1774. 

May 19, 1784, John Chamberlin was killed by a falling tree, which 
he and his son had been cutting. 

On the 10th of May, 1786, Uriah Crooks was fatally hurt by the fall- 
ing of a stub, at a chopping bee. This was at the northeast corner of 
Denison lake. He survived but a few hours. 

1791, in May, Jonathan Stimson, when ploughing on the Beaman 
farm, was struck by a tree blown down by the wind, and killed. 

In 1833, January 14, Samuel Brown, Jr., was killled by the fall of 
a tree, near the southeast part of the Brown farm, where a monument 

36 



402 HISTORY OF WINCHENDOff. 

marks the spot. He was a brother of the late Win. Brown, Esq., and 
father of the Rev. Samuel Watson Brown, recently deceased. 

In 1834, Mary Day, daughter of Mr. Daniel Day, Sen., was killed 
by a falling tree. She and a young playmate, now Mrs. A. Bowker, 
were at a safe distance, but the choppers told them to run, when they 
started, the little Day girl fell, and was killed by a branch. This occur- 
red just across Miller's river, and north of the Fry place. 

September 2, 1836, Joseph Adams, son of Col. Adams, was killed 
at the Murdock mills, which he had sold, not long before, to Capt. Mur- 
dock. A log which he was hauling, swung round, and hitting him on 
the head, gave a mortal blow. He lived but a few hours. He was an 
enterprising man, pleasant in his family, and respected by his friends. 

A falling tree killed Mr. Humphrey Harris, on the 13th of January, 
1847. 

DEATHS BY HORSES, TEAMS, &0. 

Capt. Israel Whitcomb is often mentioned in the Records, near the 
close of the last century and the opening of the present. He was killed 
hj the kick of a horse, in Fitzwilliam, November, 1804. He was found 
in the road by Esq. Murdock. 

In 1811, Joseph Story of Fitchburg, was killed on the road just be- 
yond Capt. Levi Steams', by falling out of a chaise, and being run over 
by the wheels. 

In November, 1814, Luke Knight was killed in a wagon, by the kick 
of a horse, on the road near where Mr. William Capron lives. 

On the 14th of October, 1816, Thomas Wyman, Jr., was killed, it 
was supposed, by falling from a horse, and being dragged by the stir- 
rup. He was found dead in the road near. 

On the 6th of the following December, Thomas Wyman, Sen., who 
was deaf, was killed in Worcester, by a stage running over him in the 
dark. 

In 1818, June 6, Silas Brown, eleven years old, came to his death 
by being run over by a cart loaded with gravel. 

On the 30th of December, 1830, a boy named Elisha Fry, was killed 
by the falling of a cart body upon him, at the Elias Whitney place. 

In 1834, July 13, Elizabeth Goodspeed was killed, a large loaded 
wagon passing over her head and neck. She, with others, was return- 



HISTORY OP WINCHENDON. 403 

• 

ing from meeting in a wagon. In attempting to pass the loaded wag- 
on, their vehicle was upset towards the wagon, and she was thrown under 
a wheel. 

Joel Robbins, of Rindge, on the 18th of September, 1835, was killed 
near the Woodbury saw-mill, by a wagon. 

In October, 1843, a little son of Mr. Newell and Mrs. Rebecca Wy- 
man was killed by the kick of a horse. 

Edson A. Parks, son of Mr. Austin Parks, was killed by the kick of 
a horse, on the 8th of January, 1866. 

DEATHS BY BURNING. 

In 1824, the widow Elizabeth Baldwin was found burnt to death, 
by the family, on returning from meeting on the Sabbath day. Nearly 
all her flesh was consumed. 

In 1828, a child of a Mr. Lathrop came to its death by falling into 
a pot of hot fat. 

In 1837, a child of Mr. Joel Hunt died in consequence of being 
scalded. 

On the morning of the 5th of December, 1854, Mrs. Phebe H. Wy- 
man, wife of Mr. Harvey Wyman, was burned to death. She was en- 
feebled by sickness, and being left a few minutes, it is supposed she ap- 
proached the fire for some purpose, and fell in, and being unable to 
extricate herself, perished. She was a sensible, pious woman, and was 
greatly missed by her friends. 

OTHER FATAL CASUALTIES. 

In 1778, a traveller, while stopping at the Nichols tavern, was chok- 
ed to death by a piece of meat. 

1786, Mrs. Jonathan Smith had a child die in her arms while riding 
in a sleigh ; probably smothered. 

In 1830, a daughter of Mr. Lewis Robbins, named Maria, fell upon 
a revolving water-wheel, and was instantly killed. 

On the 17th of October, 1833, Samuel Hartwell was found dead 
near a bridge, in the south-west part of the town. He was out in the 
dark, the evening before, and the supposition was that he fell from the 
bridge. 

In 1834, February 5, a young man, Adams by name, working in 



404 HISTORY OF WJIS T CHEND0tf. 

the factory at Spring Village, had his hand caught in a running belt 7 
which injured him so as to cause his death. 

October 15, 1840, a son of Mr. Edward Loud, named William, was 
killed by being caught in a belt, and thrown round a shaft. 

On the 25th of March, 1846, a young man from New Salem, named 
Weeks, "was killed by falling upon a water-wheel. 

On the 2d of April, same year, a girl named Taggart, aged 16 
years, from Sharon, N. H., was found dead, having been frozen, a lit- 
tle distance from the road, in the woods north from the school-house. 
She had been working in the cotton factory, but was missing in the 
previous November. For a time it was supposed that she had return- 
ed to her home. 

In 1852, Oct. 29, Mr. Jason Goodaledied in consequence of a fall. 

March 21, 1860, Elisha R., son of Mr. Newell Wyman, ten years 
of age, while playing on a mow in the barn, slid onto an iron hay-hook, 
which entered the lower part of his body, and penetrated sixteen inches. 
It was impossible to extract it before the death of the lad, which oc- 
curred in a few hours. The little fellow knew that he must die, but 
he manifested the sweetest trust in his Saviour. 

In 1862, December 29, Mrs. Nancy Robbins died literally of old 
age, being 101 years and 5 months old. 

On the 2d of September, 1864, Wallace R., son of Mr. H. 0. Clark, 
came to his death by an accident on the Wilmington & Baltimore rail- 
road. His remains were brought here for burial. The event awak- 
ened deep sympathy for the afflicted family. 

In 1865, on the 4th of April, Walter G. Bryant, son of Mr. Nathan 
Bryant, was killed by the bursting of a gun, near the house of Capt. 
Levi Greenwood, and a few rods from his father's door. He was an 
only child, and was greatly beloved by his parents, teachers and com- 
panions. He was eighteen years of age. 

FIRES. 

Fires were not common in the early years of the town, though there 
are traditions of an occasional case of the kind. Fires have been con- 
fined mainly to mills, shops and dry-houses. Three factories, two oil 
mills, one grist mill, a large barn and two large dry-houses, have been 
burned on the site of Goodspeed & Wyman. Some of the fires will 
be mentioned in chronological order. 



HISTORY OF W1NCHENBON. 405 

1851, April 22. The shoe shop of Wm. Pollard, the Union store, 
the Post Office, and the stores and shops of N. H. Hand, Knapp & 
Beals, Joel Hunt, J. M. Claugklin and M. B. Felton, were burned to 
the ground- 
December 19. The house of Ozro Hancock, and the store of Mo- 
ses Hancock in Waterville, were burned. 

1852, June 11. The large boarding-house and two dry-houses were 
burned at Murdock's mill. • 

August 20. Two barns, with considerable property belonging to 
the tavern stand, were consumed. 

October 19. The store occupied by George S. Pollard, and the Odd 
Fellows hall, was much damaged by fire. 

1853, January 23. The house of Messrs. Wheeler & Hay ward, on 
the hill, was half consumed. 

1854, August 12. The tub and pail shop of E. Murdock, Jr., oc- 
cupied by William Beaman and Mr. Converse, was burnt. 

November 17. Whitman & Parks' mill and pail shop, at Bullard- 
ville, were burnt to the ground. 

1855, The large barn of the Winchendon Manufacturing Co., with 
hay and grain, was entirely consumed. 

May 30. The large factory at Spring Village, was burned to the 
ground. Insured for $30,000. 

1856, May 27. The tannery was consumed. 

November 21. E. Murdock & Co's pail shop at Waterville, was 
burned. 

1857, May. The mill and pail and tub shop of Parks & Day, at 
Bullardville, were totally destroyed. 

1858, October. The barn of Elisha Beaman, with all its contents, 
was burned. 

1859, September 27. The woolen factory met its fate the third and 
last time. 

1863, March 20. The foundry of B. D. Whitney, occupied by 
Elisha Beaman, was consumed. 

The above were the principal fires during the last twenty years. The 
origin in most cas«s, was accident, or carelessness ; in others, the pub- 
lic opinion was, that incendiaries had been at work. But no case of 
conviction for incendiarism has occurred. 



•iOtf HISTORY OF WIXCIIENDON. 

CASES OF SUICIDE. 

The first instance of self-destruction occurred on the 12th of March, 
1797, when a boy named Jonathan Moor, hung himself on a sleigh- 
tongue, in the barn of Lieut. Benjamin Hubbard, who then lived on 
■what was afterwards known as Elias Whitney's farm. Inquiry elicits 
nothing to account for the act but the remark that " the boy was a 
witch-cat." 

On*the 29th of June, 1862, Miss Jcrusha Dunham took her own 
life by hanging. She was naturally amiable and attractive, but was 
long afflicted with hereditary insanity. 

In 1864, June 20, Miss Lorinda Phelps committed suicide by drown- 
ing. 

In 1864, June 20, Miss Lorinda Phelps was found in the Kendall 
& Mason pond near Hydeville. It was supposed that, in a fit of de- 
pression, she had given up life in this mode. 

HOMICIDES. 

On the 8th of September, 1800, a youth by the name of Stephen 
Bixby, was killed and horribly mangled with an axe, by Daniel Rob- 
bins, an insane man. This took place in or near a log house on land 
of Capt. Joseph Robbins. Robbins labored under the delusion that the 
end of the world was near, and that in order to its actual arrival, blood 
must be shed, and that God had set him apart to do the work. He 
chased Ins own brother, who was obliged to flee for his life. Men turn- 
ed out armed with guns, pitchforks and other weapons, and captured 
him. He was put in prison, and confined for life. This was before 
the day of hospitals for the insane. Dr. Whiton says that boys were 
afraid to go after the cows, fearing lest Robbins would dart out from 
thV bushes and kill them. 

In 1861, on the 14th of September, Mrs. Betsey Page died from poi- 
son. At the same time, her two daughters, Miss Miranda Page and 
Mrs. Leander Hartwell, suffered, the former severely, the latter mildly, 
from the same dose. The case was this. Hartwell had married the 
youngest daughter, and lived on the place, having the care of a moth- 
er-in-law and a sister-in-law who were invalids. His wife was healthy. 
He obtained arsenic of the apothecary, on the plea that he wanted to 
kill rata. The poison was mixed*in some hash prepared for breakfast. 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 407 

The mother was fatally poisoned ; Miranda just escaped death ; Mrs. 
Hartwell partook of but little. It was clearly proved that Hartwell 
put the poison in the victuals, but he was cleared on the plea of insan- 
ity. He was kept in the insane hospital for a while, and then releas- 
ed. He lived with his wife till her death a year or two since- Many 
believed that the plea of insanity had no foundation. 

A dark crime occurred a few years since. A large paper box was 
found floating on the pond in the Village, containing the tiny bodies 
of two infants. Whether they were born dead, or were smothered, or 
died from exposure, is not known. This was one of those cases of hid- 
den guilt which make a judgment day a necessity. 

In this connection, it is proper, if any allusion is made to the mat- 
ter, to speak of a supposed case of homicide, or murder, which occurred 
many years since. The author has hesitated to relate the circumstan- 
ces, lest injustice might be done to an innocent man ; but as he was 
considered guilty at the time, and is still by aged people, it will help 
to clear his memory, to state the case. Along before and after the be- 
ginning of the century, a, man by the name of Eber Arnold, lived in 
the old Oaks house, now occupied by Mr. Townsend, beyond the bridge a 
mile from Waterville. He was a man of violent temper, and intem- 
perate habits. A young man was forking for him one season, with 
whom he became very angry. They were at work one day, in the 
meadow south of Miller's river, and when called to dinner, Arnold in- 
sisted that the young man should earry him on his back, across the 
stream. The youth contrived to stumble and throw the old man into 
the water. The latter was in a towering passion, and threatened to 
kill the roguish fellow. As evening came on, the young man left the 
house, and went up the road to the house of Mr. Phinehas Parks. Soon 
Arnold came along, but the young man left the house by the back door 
before his pursuer entered. He disappeared in the dark towards the 
woods southwest of the house. Arnold ware an old cloak, and had a 
rusty old sword underneath it. He started after the young man, and 
the story is, the latter was never seen afterwards. In after years it 
was observed that Arnold, in abstracted moods, talked as if conscious of 
some dark and secret crime. It is the old story of Eugene Aram. A 
watcher with him when sick, related how he was disturbed in his dreams 
.and his waking hours. He spoke of the hands that were not covered 



408 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 

up, and of other things, as if he had had a struggle with his victim. 
The impression made on the mind of his attendant was, that Arnold 
was cognizant of the cause of the young man's absence. The result 
of all the circumstances was a conviction in many minds that he was 
guilty, either of murder, or of homicide in a fight. It is gratifying to 
be able to state that those suspicions probably were unfounded. A cit- 
izen of this town, while traveling a few years since in Vermont, staid 
over night at the house of a sister of the missing man, and she said 
that the family did not believe that her brother was killed by Arnold. 
Whether they had heard from him, or not, is not known, but they har- 
bored no suspicions of his murder. Thus a stain is taken from the mem- 
ory of Arnold, and also from the fair fame of the town. 

SUPERSTITION AND WITCHCRAFT. 

The town traditions are not rich in cases of witchcraft and appari- 
tions, though doubtless the early settlers partook of the spirit of the 
times, when every neighborhood had its stories of ghosts. Even to this 
day there are those who believe in the supernal or infernal knowledge 
of witches, and there are those living who have resorted to such hags 
to get information of lost cattle, and of the location of drowned bodies. 
Here and there one has been wetik enough to seek for similar intelli- 
gence from spirit rappers, though the town has been remarkably free 
from such delusions. 

About 1790, according to Dr. Whiton, there was a supposed case of 
witchcraft in this town. The members of a family living on the Bige- 
low place in the east part of the town, were alarmed by what they 
deemed supernatural noises, and by stones thrown against the house by 
invisible hands. The disturbance rose to such a pitch, and the family 
were so alarmed, that .they called in the minister, Mr. Brown, to lay 
the spirit, check-mate the witch, exoreise the foul fiend, or remove the 
cause of disturbance, whatever it might be. Mr. Brown was never in- 
clined to say much about the matter, but it was supposed that he con- 
sidered the noises to be the work of human cunning. 

In 1814, an aged inhabitant died. Some time after, his son went to 
the old burying-yard to put up gravestones. He related that his fa- 
ther appeared to him, and religiously believed that it was a real case of 
ghostly apparition. It does not appear that the departed had anything 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 409 

to communicate that would justify taking such a journey ; a circum- 
stance often noticed in relation to alleged spiritualistic messages from 
the unseen world. 

It must be confessed that this section upon superstitions is very mea- 
ger, but the author is glad that there is nothing farther of this nature 
to relate. The more enlightened a people are in their religious convic- 
tions, the better instructed they are in Scriptural truth, the more free 
are they from dark and degrading superstitions. 



410 



HISTORY OP WINCHENDON. 



CHAPTER XXIX. — LIST OF 

FICERS. 



TOWN OF- 



" Honor and shame from no condition rise ; 
Act well your part, — there all the honor lies." 

Pope. 



LIST OP TOWN OFFICERS. 



In the following list will be found the names of the principal town of- 
ficers from the year 1766. The first column, headed " Moderators, 
&c," contains the names of the Moderator, Clerk and Treasurer, for 
each year, and always in that order of sequence. 



YEAR. MODERATORS, ETC. 

1766. Ephraim Boynton, 
Abel Wilder, 
Richard Day. 

1767. Theos. Mansfield, 
Theos. Mansfield, 
Richard Day. 

1768. Theos. Mansfield, 
Abel Wilder, 
Richard Day. 

1769. Theos. Mansfield, 
Abel Wilder, 
Richard Day. 

1770. Theos. Mansfield, 
Abel Wilder, 
Richard Day. 

1771. Richard Day, 
Abel Wilder, 
Richard Day. 

1772. John Cheney, 
Abel Wilder, 
Richard Day. 

1773. Richard Day, 
Abel Wilder, 
Moses Hale. 



SELECTMEN. 

Theos. Mansfield, 
Richard Day, 
Abel Wilder. 
Theos. Mansfield, 
Joseph Boynton, 
Silas Whitney. 
Abel Wilder, 
Seth Oaks, 
Jonathan Stimson. 
Abel Wilder, 
Seth Oaks, 
Jonathan Stimson. 
Abel Wilder, 
Seth Oaks, 
John Boynton. 
Richard Day, 
John Cheney, 
Thomas Sawyer. 
Abel Wilder, 
John Boynton, 
Dudley Perley. 
Richard Day, 
Amos Merriam, 
John Homer. 



ASSESSORS. 

No Assessors. 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 



411 



YEAR. MODERATORS, ETC. 

1774. Seth Oaks, 
Abel Wilder, 
Moses Hale. 



1775. Moses Hale, 
Abel Wilder, 
Moses Hale. 



1776. Moses Hale, 
Abel Wilder, 
Moses Hale. 



1777. Thomas Kimball, 
Abel Wilder, 
Amos Merriam. 



1778. Moses Hale, 
Abel Wilder, 
Abel Wilder. 



1779. Benjamin Brown, 
Abel Wilder, 
Abel Wilder. 



1780. Dr. Israel Whiton, 
Abel Wilder, 
Abel Wilder. 



1781. Ebenezer Sherwin , 
Abel Wilder, 
Benj. Brown. 



1782. Sam'l Crosby, 
Abel Wilder, 
Bcnj Brown. 



SELECTMEN. 

Abel Wilder, 
Levi Nichols, 
Abner Hale, 
Wm. Whitney, 
Eli Smith. 
Abel Wilder, 
Levi Nichols, 
John Boynton, 
' David Poor, 
Gideon Fisher. 
Abel Wilder, 
William Whitney. 
Joseph Boynton, 
Eli Smith, 
James Murdoek. 
Abel Wilder, 
John Boynton, 
Wm. Whitney, 
Eli Smith, 
Amos Merriam. 
Moses Hale, 
Miles Putnam, 
Daniel Goodridge, 
Joseph Bacon, 
Abner Curtiss. 
Amos Merriam, 
Ebenezer Sherwin, 
Solomon Bigelow, 
Seth Oaks, 
Samuel Noyes. 
Abel Wilder, 
Samuel Prentiss, 
Benjamin Brown, 
Samuel Stone, 
Francis Bridge. 

Amos Merriam, 
Joshua Gale, 
Bill Hancock, 
Paul Boynton, 
John Day. 

Amos Merriam, 
Sam'l Crosby, Esq., 
Amos Heywood, 
Edward Withington. 



ASSESSORS. 

No Assessors. 



Abel Wilder, 
Moses Hale, 
Thomas Kimball, 



No Assessors. . 



Selectmen. 



Selectmen. 



Amos Merriam, 
Ebenezer Sherwin, 
Solomon Bigelow. 



Abel Wilder, 
Sam'l Prentiss, 
Benjamin Brown. 



Amos Merriam, 
Joshua Gale, 
Bill Hancock. 



Amos Merriam, 
Sam'l Crosby, 
Amos Heywood. 



412 



HISTORY OF WINCDENDON. 



YEAR. MODERATORS, ETC. 

1783. Moses Hale, 
Benj. Brown, 
Moses Hale. 



1784. Moses Hale, 
Benj. Brown, 
Amos Merriam. 



1785. Abel Wilder, 
Benj. Brown, 
Amos Merriam. 



1786. Moses Hale, 
Benj. Brown, 
Amos Merriam. 



1787. Sam'l Prentice, 
Amos Heywood, 
Amos Merriam. 

17S8. Sam'l Crosby, 
Amos Heywood, 
Moses Hale. 



1789. Sam'l Crosby, 
Amos Heywood, 
Moses Hale. 



1790. Sam'l Crosby, 
Amos Heywood, 
Moses Hale. 



1791. Sam'l Crosby, 
Amos Heywood, 
Moses Hale. 



SELECTMEN. 

Amos Merriam, 
Sam'l Crosby, 
Benj. Brown, 
David Foster, 
Daniel Hubbard. 
Benj. Brown, 
Samuel Prentice, 
Samuel Litcb, 
James Steel, 
James Cooledge. 
Benj. Brown. 
Sam'l Prentice, 
Sam'l Litcb, 
James Steel, 
James Cooledge. 
Benj. Brown, 
Sam'l Prentice, 
Sam'l Crosby, Esq., 
John Burr, 
Levi Moor. 
Amos Heywood, 
Abiel Buttrick, 
Jeremiah Stuart, 
Daniel Heywood. 

Amos Heywood, 
Abiel Buttrick, 
Jeremiah Stuart, 
Daniel Hubbard, 
Paul Boynton. 
Amos Heywood, 
Abiel Buttrick, 
Jeremiah Stuart, 
Daniel Hubbard, 
Paul Boynton. 
Amos Heywood, 
Abiel Buttrick, 
Jeremiah Stuart, 
Paul Boynton, 
Ebenezer Richardson 
Amos Heywood, 
Abiel Buttrick, 
Jeremiah Stuart, 
Paul Boynton, 
Ebenezer Richardson 



ASSESSORS. 



Amos Merriam, 
Sam'l Crosby, 
Benj. Brown. 



Benj. Brown, 
Sam'l Prentice, 
Sam'l Litcb. 



Benj. Brown, 
Sam'l Prentice, 
Sam'l Litcb. 



Benj. Brown, 
Sam'l Prentice, 
Sam'l Crosby. 



Amos Heywood, 
Abiel Buttrick, 
Jeremiah Stuart. 

Amos Heywood, 
Abiel Buttrick, 
Jeremiah Stuart. 



Amos Heywood, 
Jeremiah Stuart, 
Abiel Buttrick. 



Amos Heywood, 
Abiel Buttrick, 
Jeremiah Stuart. 



Amos Heywood, 
Jeremiah Stuart, 
Abiel Buttrick. 



HISTORY OF wmCHENDON. 



413 



YEAR. MODERATORS, ETC. 

1792. Sam'l Crosby, 
Sam'l Crosby, 
Moses Hale. 



1793. Sam'l Prentice, 
Amos Hey wood, 
John Burr. 



1794. Moses Hale, 
Moses Hale, 
Sam'l Prentice. 



1795. Amos Hey wood, 
Moses Hale, 
Levi Moor. 



1796. Desire Tolman, 
Amos Heywood, 
Levi Moor. 



1797. Desire Tolman, 
Amos Heywood, 
Levi Moor. 



1798. Desire Tolman, 
Moses Hale, 
Amos Heywood . 



1799. Desire Tolman, 
Sam'l Crosby, 
Amos Heywood. 



1800. Desire Tolman, 
Samuel Crosby, 
Amos Heywood. 



SELECTMEN. 

Samuel Crosby, 
Abiel Buttrick, 
Paul Boynton, 
Ebenezer Bichardson. 
Desire Tolman. 
Amos Heywood, 
Abiel Buttrick, 
Jeremiah Stuart, 
Peter Bobinson, 
Amos Hale. 
Moses Hale, 
Desire Tolman, 
Paul Boynton, 
Ezra Hide, 
Benjamin Wilder. 
Moses Hale, 
Desire Tolman, 
Benjamin Wilder, 
Jacob Wales, 
Thomas Greenwood. 
Amos Heywood, 
Bcnj. Wilder, ' 
Sam'l Prentice, Jr., 
Thomas Wilder, 
Phinehas Whitney. 
Amos Heywood, 
Benj. Wilder, 
Sam'l Prentice, Jr., 
Phinehas Whitney, 
Jonas Bruce. 
Moses Hale, 
Ezra Hide, 
Amasa Brown, 
Benj. Hubbard, 
Levi Heywood. 
Samuel Crosby, 
Ezra Hyde, 
Desire Tolman, 
Thomas Graton, 
Benj. Hubbard. 
Sam'l Crosby, 
Thomas Graton, 
Paul Raymond, Jr., 
Jacob B. Woodbury 
Benj. Adams. 



ASSESSORS. 



Sam'l Crosby. 
Abiel Buttrick. 
Paul Boynton. 



Amos Heywood, 
Abiel Buttrick, 
Jeremiah Stuart. 



Moses Hale, 
Desire Tolman, 
Paul Boynton. 



Moses Hale, 
Desire Tolman, 
Benj. Wilder. 



Amos Heywood, 
Benj. Wilder, 
Sam'l Prentice, Jr. 



Amos Heywood, 
Benj. Wilder, 
Sam'l Prentiee, Jr. 



Moses Hale, 
Amasa Brown, 
Ezra Hyde. 



Sam'l Crosby, 
Ezra Hyde, 
*Desire Tolman. 



Sam'l Crosby, 
Thomas Graton, 
Paul Raymond, Jr 



414 



HISTORY OP WINCHENDON. 



YEAR. MODERATORS, ETC. 

1801. Desire Tolman, 
Amos Heywood, 
Levi Moor. 



1802. Desire Tolman, 
Amos Heywood, 
Samuel Prentiss. 



1803. Desire Tolman, 
Amos Heywood, 
Samuel Prentiss. 



1804. Desire Tolman, 
Amos Heywood, 
Paul Raymond, Jr. 

1805. Desire Tolman, 
Amos Heywood, 
Paul Raymond. 

1806. Desire Tolman, 
Amos Heywood, 
Paul Raymond. 



1807. Jacob B. Woodbury, 
Samuel Prentiss, 
Thomas Graton. 



1808. Desire Tolman, 
Samuel Prentiss, 
Thomas Graton. 



1809. Paul Raymond, 
Samuel Prentis%, 
Thomas Graton. 



1810. Amos Heywood, 
Samuel Prentiss, 
Benj. Adams. 



SELECTMEN. 

Amos Heywood, 
Paul Raymond, Jr., 
Sam'l Prentice. Jr., 
Eph'm Murdock, 
Isaac Noyes. 
Amos Heywood, 
Paul Raymond, Jr., 
Sam'l Prentiss, Jr., 
Benjamin Hubbard, 
Abel Jones. 
Amos Heywood, 
Paul Raymond, Jr., 
Thomas Greenwood, 
Samuel Brown, 
Hananiah Whitney. 
Amos Heywood, 
Thomas Greenwood, 
Hananiah Whitney. 

Thomas Greenwood, 
Sam'l Brown, 
Hananiah Whitney. 
Thomas Greenwood, 
Samuel Brown, 
Samuel Prentiss, 
George Coffin, 
Timothy Hancock. 
Paul Raymond, 
James Raymond, 
David Beaman, 
Daniel Day, 
Thomas Knowlton. 
Paul Raymond, 
James Raymond, 
David Beaman, 
Isaac Morse, 
Abijah Pierce. 
Paul Raymond, 
Sam'l Prentiss, 
Sam'l Brown, 
Eph'm Murdock, 
Asa Perly. 
Isaac Morse, 
Eph'm Murdock, 
Asa Perly. 



ASSESSORS. 



Amos Heywood, 
Paul Raymond, Jr., 
Sam'l Prentice, Jr. 



Amos Heywood, 
Paul Raymond, Jr. 
Sam'l Prentiss, Jr. 



Amos Heywood, 
Paul Raymond, Jr. 
Thos. Greenwood. 



Amos Heywood, 
Thos. Greenwood, 
Han'h Whitney. 
Amos Heywood, 
Sam'l Prentiss, Jr., 
Amos Goodhue. 
Amos Heywood, 
Han'h Whitney, 
Amos Goodhue. 



Paul Raymond, 
Phinehas Whitney, 
Nathaniel Holman. 



Paul Raymond, 
James Raymond, 
David Beaman. 



Sam'l Prentiss, 
John McElwain, 
Isaac Morse. 



Paul Raymond, 
Moses Hale, Jr., 
John McElwain. 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 



415 



PEAR. MODERATORS, ETC. 

1811. Paul Raymond, 
Samuel Prentiss, 
Benj. Adams. 



1812. Eph'm Murdock, 
Sam'l Prentiss, 
Benj. Adams. 



1813. Isaac Morse, 

Samuel Prentiss, 
Benj. Adams. 



1814. Isaac Morse, 
• Sam'l Prentiss, 
Benj. Adams. 



1815. Isaac Morse, 

Samuel Prentiss, 
Benj. Adams. 



1816. Isaac Morse, 

Samuel Prentiss, 
Benj. Adams. 



1817. Horatio G. Newcomb 
Samuel Prentiss, 
Amasa Whitney. 



1818. H. G. Newcomb, 
Samuel Prentiss, 
Amasa Whitney. 



1819. Israel Whitcomb, 
Samuel Prentiss, 
Amasa Whitney. 



SELECTMEN. 

Isaac Morse, 
Thos. Greenwood, 
Sam'l Brown, 
George Coffin, 
Asa Hale. 
Isaac Morse, 
Thomas Greenwood, 
George Coffin, 
Asa Hale, 
Amasa Whitney. 
Thomas Greenwood, 
Sam'l Prentiss, 
George Coffin, 
Asa Hale, 
Amasa Whitney. 

Thomas Greenwood, 
Sam'l Prentiss, 
George Coffin, 
Asa Hale, 
Amasa Whitney. 
Thomas Greenwood, 
Asa Hale, 
Asa Perly, 
Israel Whitcomb, 
Sam'l Noyes. 
Thomas Greenwood, 
Asa Hale, 
Israel Whitcomb, 
Samuel Noyes, 
David Beaman. 
Thomas Greenwood, 
Asa Hale, 
Israel W r hitcomb, 
Sam'l Noyes, 
David Beaman. 
Israel Whitcomb, 
Asa Perly, 
Gideon Balcom, 
Levi Brooks, 
Moses Hale. 

Israel Whitcomb, 
Gideon Balcom, 
Daniel Henshaw. 



ASSESSORS. 

Paul Raymond, 
Nathaniel Holman, 
John McElwain. 



Samuel Prentiss, 
Paul Raymond, 
John McElwain. 



Isaac Morse, 
Sam'l Prentiss, 
William Tolman. 



Paul Raymond, 
Isaac Morse, 
John McElwain. 



Paul Raymond, 
Samuel Prentiss, 
Isaac Morse. 



Paul Raymond, 
Sam'l Prentiss, 
Jacob Woodbury. 



Isaac Morse, 
Jacob Woodbury, 
Moses Hale. ■ 



Moses Hale, 
Horatio G. Newcomb, 
Jacob Woodbury. 



Paul Raymond, 
Sam'l Prentiss, 
James McElwain, J r. 



416 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 



YEAR. MODERATORS, ETC. 

1820. H. G. Newcomb, 
Samuel Prentiss, 
Amasa Whitney. 

1821. Isaac Morse, 
Samuel Prentiss, 
Amasa Whitney. 

1S22. Isaac Morse, 

Samuel Prentiss, 
Amasa Whitney. 

1823. Israel Whiteomb, 
Samuel Prentiss, 
Amasa Whitney. 

1824. Isaac Morse, 
Samuel Prentiss, 
Amasa Whitney. 

1825. Isaac Morse, 
Samuel Prentiss, 
Amasa Whitney. 

1826. Isaac Morse, 
Samuel Prentiss, 
Amasa Whitney. 

1827. Isaac Morse, 
Samuel Prentiss, 
Amasa Whitney. 

1828. Isaac Morse, 
Samuel Prentiss,* 
Amasa Whitney. 

1829. Jacob Wales, 
Isaac Morse, 
Benj. Adams. 

1830. Foxwell N. Thomas, 
Joshua Smith, 
Benj. Adams. 



1831. Jacob Wales, 
Joshua Smith, 
Benj. Adams. 

1832. Elisha Gregory, 
Webster Whitney, 
Benj. Adams. 

1S33. Mark Whiteomb, 
Webster Whitney, 
Benj. Adams. 



SELECTMEN. 

Gideon Balcom, 
Asa Hale, 
William Tolman. 
Isaac Morse, 
Eph'm Murdock, 
Benj. Adams. 
Isaac Morse, 
Eph'm Murdock, 
Benj. Adams. 
Israel Whiteomb, 
James McElwain, 
Paul Raymond, Jr., 
Isaac Morse, 
Eph'm Murdock, 
Sam'l Prentiss. 
Isaac Morse, 
Eph'm Murdock, 
Israel Whiteomb. 
Benj. Adams, 
William Brown, 
Jacob Woodbury. 
Benj. Adams, 
Israel Whiteomb, 
Jacob Woodbury. 

Isaac Morse, 
Israel Whiteomb, 
Luke Parks. 
Isaac Morse, 
Israel Whiteomb, 
Luke Parks. 
William Brown, 
Edward Loud, 
Henry Greenwood, 
Jacob Wales, 
Reuben Harris. 
William Brown, 
Henry Greenwood, 
Jacob Wales. 
Henry Greenwood, 
Edward Loud, 
Seth Tucker, Jr. 
Benj. Adams, 
Israel Whiteomb, 
Henry Greenwood, 



ASSESSORS. 

Paul Raymond, 
Samuel Prentiss, 
James McElwain, Jr. 
Isaac Morse, 
Eph'm Murdock, 
Benj. Adams. 
Isaac Morse, 
Eph'm Murdock, 
Benj. Adams. 
Isaac Morse, 
Jacob Woodbury, 
Sam'l Prentiss. 
Isaac Morse, 
Eph'm Murdock, 
Sam'l Prentice. 
Isaac Morse, 
Jacob Wales, 
Israel Whiteomb. 

Benj. Adams, 
William Brown, 
Jacob Woodbury. 
Benj. Adams, 
Israel Whiteomb, 
Jacob Woodbury. 
Isaac Morse, 
Israel Whiteomb, 
Jacob Woodbury. 
Isaac Morse, 
Israel Whiteomb, 
Luke Parks. 
Jacob Wales, 
James McElwain, 
William Tolman. 



James McElwain, 
Edward Loud, 
Jacob Wales. 
James McElwain, 
Thomas Knowlton, 
Mark Whiteomb, 
James McElwain, 
George Alger, 
William Brown. 



* Died October 13. Joshua Smith served the remainder of the year. 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 



417 



YEAR. MODERATORS, ETC. 

1834. Reuben Harris, 
Webster Whitney, 
Webster Whitney. 

183o.fJohn Cutter, 

Webster Whitney, 
Webster Whitney. 

1836. John Cutter, 
Webster Whitney, 
Webster Whitney. 

1837. Eph'm Murdoek, Jr. 
Webster Whitney, 
Isaac Morse. 

1838. E. Murdoek, Jr., 
Webster Whitney, 
Isaac Morse. 

1839. E. Murdoek, Jr., 
Webster Whitney, 
E. Murdoek, Jr. 

1840. John Cutter, 
Webster Whitney, 
E. Murdoek, Jr. 

1841. John Cutter, 
Webster Whitney, 
E. Murdoek, Jr. 

1842. E. Murdoek, Jr., 
Webster Whitney, 
E. Murdoek, Jr., 

1843. E. Murdoek, Jr., 
Webster Whitney, 
E. Murdoek, Jr. 

1844. E. Murdoek, Jr., 
Webster Whitney, 
E. Murdoek, Jr. 

1845. E. Murdoek, Jr., 
Webster Whitney, 
C. E. Whitman. 

1846. Calvin It. Whitman, 
Webster Whitney, 
C E. Whitman. 

1847. E. Murdoek, Jr. 
Webster Whitney. 
C. R. Whitman. 



SELECTMEN. 

William Brown, 
Isaac Morse, 
Levi Greenwood. 
William Brown, 
Isaac Morse, 
Levi Greenwood, 
Isaac Morse, 
Levi Greenwood, 
Elisha Beaman. 
Levi Greenwood, 
Mark Whitcomb, 
Reuben Vose. 
Levi Greenwood, 
Mark Whitcomb, 
Reuben Vose. 
Mark Whitcomb. 
Henry Greenwood, 
John Forristall. 
Henry Greenwood, 
John Forristall, 
Webster Whitney. 
Henry Greenwood, 
John Forristall, 
Webster Whitney. 
Henry Greenwood, 
Levi Parks, 
Webster Whitney. 

Levi Parks, 
Henry Greenwood, 
Webster Whitney. 
Webster Whitney, 
Levi Raymond, 
Eph. W. Weston. 

Eph. W. Weston, 
John Cutter, 
Moses Hancock. 

Webster Whitney, 
Henry Greenwood, 
Eph. Murdoek, Jr. 

Elisha Beaman, 
Harvey Wyman, 
Levi Raymond. 



ASSESSORS. 

Eph'm Murdoek, Jr., 
William Brown, 
George Alger. 
James McElwain, 
Eph'm Murdoek, Jr. , 
George Alger. 
Webster Whitney, 
Benj. Adams, 
George Alger. 
Eph'm Murdoek, Jr., 
James McElwain, 
Lev; Parks. 
James McElwain, 
Levi Parks, 
William B. Whitney. 
Levi Parks, 
William B. Whitney, 
Ezra Porter. 
Levi Parks, 
James McElwain, 
Webster Whitney. 
Levi Parks, 
James McElwain, 
Moses Hancock. 

Levi Parks, 
Moses Hancock, 
Levi Greenwood. 
Moses Hancock, 
Eph. W. Weston, 
Levi Greenwood. 
Levi Greenwood, 
Eph. W. Weston, 
Moses Hancock. 

Eph. W. Weston, 
Joseph Porter, 
George Brown. 

Ezra Porter, 
Jacob Woodbury, 
Seth Tucker, Jr. 

Eph'm Murdoek, Jr., 
Moses Hancock, 
Seth Tucker, Jr. 



37 



418 



HISTORY OF WINCHEffDOS. 



YEAR. MODERATORS, ETC. 

1848. Milton S. Morse, 
Webster Whitney, 
C. R. Whitman. 

1849. Milton S. Morse, 
Webster Whitney. 
E. W. Weston. 

1850 Elisha Murdock, 
Webster Whitney, 
E. W. Weston. 

1851. E. Murdock, Jr., 
Webster Whitney, 
Benj. R. Day. 

1852. E. Murdock, Jr., 
Webster Whitney, 
Benj. R. Day. 

1853. E. Murdock, Jr., 
Webster Whitney, 
B. R. Day. 

1854. John Cutter, 
Webster Whitney, 
B. R. Day. 

1855. John Cutter, 
Webster Whitney, 
B. R. Day. 

1856. Gilman B. Parker, 
Webster Whitney, 
B. R. Day. 

1857. E. Murdock, Jr., 
Webster Whitney, 
B. R. Day. 

1858. Giles H. Whitney, 
Webster Whitney, 
B. R. Day. 

1859. Giles H. Whitney, 
Webster Whitney, 
B. R. Day. 

18G0. Giles H. Whitney, 
Webster Whitney, 
B. R. Day* 

1861. Giles H. Whitney, 
Webster Whitney, 
Win. Brown, 2d. 



SELECTMEN. 

Elisha Beaman, 
Harvey Wyman, 
Levi Raymond. 
Levi Greenwood, 
Oliver Adams, 
Grover S. Whitney. 
Webster Whitney, 
Eph'm Murdock, Jr., 
Grover S. Whitney. 
Moses Hancock, 
Nelson D. White, 
Oliver Adams. 

Moses Hancock, 
Nelson D. White, 
Oliver Adams. 
Oliver Adams, 
Seth Tucker, Jr., 
Levi Parks. 
Oliver Adams, 
Maynard Partridge, 
David Caswell. 

Maynard Partridge, 
John Cutter, 
Joshua B. Sawyer. 
Webster Whitney, 
Orlando Mason, 
Seth Tucker. 
Webster Whitney, 
Orlando Mason, 
George Brown. 
Webster Whitney, 
Orlando Mason, 
Oliver Adams. 

Webster Whitney, 
Orlando Mason, 
Oliver Adams. 

Oliver Adams, 
J. B. Sawyer, 
Luke Hale. 

Oliver Adams, 
J. B. Sawyer, 
George B. Raymond. 



ASSESSORS. 

Milton S. Morse, 
Eph'm W. Weston, 
Ezra Porter. 

Ezra Porter ™ 
Seth Tucker, 
Lincoln Baleom. 
Ezra Porter, 
Elisha Murdock, 
Ezra Porter. 
E. W. Weston, 
Moses Hancock, 
Ezra Porter. 
Ezra Porter, 
Seth Tucker, Jr., 
Calvin R. Whitman. 
Seth Tucker, 
C. R. Whitman, 
Edwin Parks. 
Bethuel Ellis, 
Charles W. Bigelow, 
Amasa Whitney. 
Bethuel Ellis, 
Edwin Parks, 
Seth Tucker, Jr. 
Seth Tucker, 
Calvin R. Whitman, 
Bethuel Ellis. 
Calvin R. Whitman, 
Bethuel Ellis, 
Wm. L. Woodcock. 

Bethuel Ellis, 
Elisha Beaman, 
Seth Tucker. 

Bethuel Ellis, 
Elisha Beaman, 
J. H. Fairbank. 

Bethuel Ellis, 
Seth Tucker, 
Elisha Beaman. 

Bethuel Ellis, 
Seth Tucker, 
Charles D. Brown. 



* Resigned in August, when William Brown, 2d, was appointed. 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 



419 



YEAR. MODERATORS, ETC. 

1862. G. H. Whitney, 
Webster Whitney, 
John H. Fairbank. 

1863. G. H. Whitney, 
Webster Whitney, 
John H. Fairbank. 

1864. G. H. Whitney, 
Webster Whitney, 
John H. Fairbank. 

1865. G. H. Whitney, 
Webster Whitney, 
Anson B. Smith. 

1866. G. H. Whitney, 
Webster Whitney, 

Anson B. Smith.* 

1867. G. H. Whitney, 
Webster Whitney, 
A. B. Smith. 

1868. G. H. Whitney, 
Webster Whitney, 
A. B. Smith. 



SELECTMEN. 

Oliver Adams, 
J. B. Sawyer, 
George B. Raymond. 
Bethuel Ellis, 
Geo. B. Raymond, 
William Beaman. 
Bethuel Ellis, 
Geo. B. Raymond, 
William Beaman. 
Geo. B. Raymond, 
John D. Howard, 
M. B. White, 
Bethuel Ellis, 
William Beaman, 
Wm. L. Woodcock. 

Bethuel Ellis. 
William Beaman, 
Win. L. Woodcock. 
Bethuel Ellis, 
Seth Tucker, 
Edward Loud, Jr. 



ASSESSORS. 

Bethuel Ellis, 
Seth Tucker, 
Charles D. Brown. 

Selectmen. 



Bethuel Ellis, 
Seth Tucker, 
Wm. Beaman. 
Bethuel Ellis, 
Wm. Beaman, 
Wm. L. Woodcock. 

Selectmen. 



REPRESENTATIVES. 

The following named gentlemen have represented the town in the 
General Court in the years annexed to their names. In some years 
there was no choice. In other years there were two representatives. 
Since 1858 this town has alternated with Ashburnham in the selection 
of a candidate. 



Robert Bradish, 


1776, 1777. 


Israel Whitcomb, 


1837 


Abel Wilder, 


1780-85. 


Elisha Murdock, 1838, 


40, 48, 51 


Moses Hale,* 


1786-1799. 


Elisha Beaman, 


1841 


Samuel Prentiss, 


1800, 1812-16. 


Henry Greenwood, 


1842 


William Whitney, 


1803, 1805-8. 


Wareham Rand, 


1843-45 


Israel Whiton, 


1809-11. 


Moses Hancock, 


1849 


Daniel Henshaw, 


1817. 


Alvah Godding, 


1850 


H. G. Newcomb, 


1820. 


John L. Reed, 


1854 


Isaac Morse, 


1823, 25, 34, 38. 


Maynard Partridge, 


1855 


Samuel Simonds, 


1824. 


Jacob B. Harris, 


1856, 57 


Reuben Hyde, 


1827. 


William Murdock, 


1859 


William Brown, 1830-32, 34, 36, 39. 


Nelson D. White, 


1861 


William Dunbar, 


1833. 


G. H. Whitney, 


1863, 65 


Jacob Wales, 


1835, 36. 


W. N. White, 


1867 



*Not every year. 



420 HISTORY OF WINCHENDOtf. 

SENATORS. 

Abel Wilder was senator from 1786 to 1792. 
Elisha Murdock in the years 1852 and 1853. 
Horatio G. Newcomb was senator after leaving the town. 
Giles H. Whitney, before becoming a resident. 

DELEGATES. 

Abel Wilder was delegate to the Convention of 1779-80, which formed the 

Constitution of the State. 
Moses Hale to the Convention which adopted the national Constitution, in 1788. 
Samuel Prentiss, Jr., to the Convention of 1820, which revised the State 

Constitution. 
Abijah P. Marvin, to the Constitutional Convention of 1853. 

OTHER OFFICERS. 

The following gentlemen have held office under the state or national 
governments : 

Justices. Samuel Crosby, Ephraim Murdock, Isaac Morse, Mark Whit- 
comb, A. W. Buttrick, Edwin S. Merrill, Giles H. Whitney, L. W. Pierce, 
and Bethuel Ellis, Esqs., have served as justices of the peace. The latter has 
been trial justice. Others have held the commission. 

Sheriff. Joseph S. Watson has been deputy sheriff a long term of years. 

Postmasters. Samuel Crosby, in 1795 ; Amos Goodhue, in 1806 ; Dan- 
iel Henshaw, Mark Whitcomb, E. W. Weston, and E. S. Merrill. 

Congressmen. Hon. Artemas Hale, Hon. William B. Washburn, and 
Hon. Carter Wilder, natives of the town, (except the last, who lived here in 
childhood and youth,) have been in Congress ; the first from the Old Colony, 
the second from the ninth district, and the last from Kansas. 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 421 



CHAPTER XXX. — BIOGRAPHIC. 



" The clouds may drop down titles and estates, 
Wealth may seek us — but wisdom must be sought." 

Young." 

This chapter must, of necessity, be of a miscellaneous character. In 
it will be included the names, 1. Of all the professional men of the 
town ; 2. Of all College graduates ; 3. Of those who — though born 
here — have followed a profession elsewhere ; and 4. Of several men 
prominent in business or in some other respect. 

SECTION 1. — CLERGYMEN. 

The names of these have been mentioned so often, and their charac- 
ters presented so fully, in the preceding chapters, that it would be su- 
perfluous to give them again in this connection. 

SECTION 2. — LAWYERS. 

The first resident lawyer of whom Ave have any knowledge, was Ben- 
jamin Bridge, who came hither in 1796, from Worcester. He found 
little encouragement, and did not long remain. His health was not 
good, and he died not long after his departure. It is said that his chi- 
rography was very beautiful. 

Samuel Thatcher succeeded him. He was a graduate, probably, 
of Harvard. The tradition is that he was a man of highly respectable 
talents, but that he was so discouraged here as to say that he would nev- 
er bring up a son to College. He left in a few years and settled in 
Maine, where he was prospered in his profession, and was sent to Con- 
gress. It is supposed that he became convinced, by success, of the 
value of education. A distinguished lawyer of this name, recently 
died at an advanced age, in Maine. 

Daniel Henshaw opened a law office here as early as 1809. He 
belonged to the Henshaw family, of Leicester. He was a man of tal- 



422 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 

ents and education. Though not fitted to push his way to distinction, 
he had abilities sufficient to perform well the duties to which the public 
might call him. His influence was always in favor of education, good 
morals and religion. He was on the school committee several years, 
was clerk of the first Church, and represented the town in the General 
Court in the year 1817. After a residence of fifteen or twenty years, 
he left town and resided at various places, as Lynn, Salem and Boston. 
For a time he was editor of a paper in Lynn, and boldly advocated the 
cause of Temperance and of Freedom, when they were unpopular. At 
one time he was obliged to go armed. He was one of the first in the 
inauguration of Post Office reform. Mr. Henshaw wielded a ready, 
vigorous and elegant pen, and wrote much for the press. At one time 
he had thoughts of writing the History of Winchendon, but if he made 
any collections for that purpose, it has not been the good fortune of the 
writer to sec them. In his old age, he visited Winchendon often, and 
seemed very much to enjoy renewed intercourse with former friends. 

Horatio Gates Newcomb was in town in 1816, and perhaps ear- 
lier. In 1820, he was representative in the legislature. He was a 
lawyer of respectable address and attainments. . But Winchendon was 
not a congenial soil for men of the legal profession in those clays, and 
he removed to Greenfield. He represented Franklin County in the 
State Senate. 

The lawyers in practice here since the removal of Mr. Newcomb, 
have been Benjamin 0. Tyler, David L. Morrill, L. D. Pierce, La- 
fayette W. Pierce, and Giles H. Whitney, Esqrs. These are still liv- 
ing, except L. D. Pierce, Esq. All but the two last mentioned, left 
several years since. T. G. Kent, S. A. Burgess, and Jacob B. Har- 
ris, Esqrs., studied law here, and perhaps conducted a few causes, but 
they are settled, and prospering in the following places, viz : Milford, 
Blackstone and Abington. 

SECTION 3. PHYSICIANS. 

The first physician of whom mention is made in the Records, was Dr. 
Taylor. The town paid a bill of his for attending Rev. Mr. Stimpson, 
but his residence is not given. 

After him, Dr. Dunsmore of Lunenburg had a run of practice in this 
town. Although a good doctor, he was a man of violent temper. It 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 423 

is related that once when he had dismounted for the purpose of gathering 
chestnuts by the road-side, his horse refused to be caught. As the Dr. 
drew near he would caper away. Dr. D. was in the habit of taking his 
gun. Being exasperated, he leveled his musket and shot the horse dead. 

Dr Shattuck, of Templeton, practised here as early as 1770, and 
for years later. 

Dr Green came here in 1774, and remained a year or two ; but not 
finding business, he departed. 

In 1777, Israel Whitox, M. D., of Ashfbrd, Conn., settled in this 
town, and remained till his death in 1810, about forty-two years. He 
had been Surgeon's Mate in the celebrated Col. Knowlton's regiment 
two or three years. He had hard times in Winchendon, for a few years, 
but his practice grew by degrees till he had most of the business here, 
besides riding in nearly all the towns of Worcester North, and some in 
New Hampshire. Many young men studied medicine with him, and 
taught school in the winter. He was a man of sense, integrity and pru- 
dence. He had the confidence of the community, and was a worthy 
member of the Church. 

He used to relate that while in New Yort, in the Revolution, he 
bought an elegant cane of a soldier for a shilling. Not long after he 
met an old gentleman who desired to look at his cane. Taking it in 
his hand, he burst into tears, saying : " This is all that is left of my son, 
the brave Capt. Cheeseman,who died fighting at Quebec." Express- 
ing a strong desire to recover it, and offering any price that might be 
demanded, Dr. Whiton felt pleasure in parting with it for the shilling 
which it had cost him. 

At one time he had a patient in Royalston, a man who was in the hab- 
it of taking the property of other people, and neglecting to restore it. 
Being very sick and afraid of dying, the man confessed his sins to the 
Dr. On his return, in answer to an inquiry in regard to the patient's 
health, he remarked that the man would " probably get well, for he had 
puked up a harrow, a log chain and a pair of saddle-bags." 

He was pursued by wolves on his return from the western part of 
Rindge, towards the close of the last century. They came near, and 
howled frightfully.,. He had a leg of veal on the crupper behind him, 
and thought of throwing it to the wolves, but thinking, as he said, that 
he had the best right to it, he put spurs to his horse, holding on to the 



424 HISTORY OF WINCHENDOST. 

veal. When he reached the opening by the old Keith tavern, the pack 
left him and slunk off into the woods. 

In 1811, he bought of the Hon. Harrison Gray Otis, two hundred 
and forty acres of land, including the outlet of Monomonauk lake, and 
extending almost to Spring Village. Mr. Otis Avas tired of paying taxes 
on unproductive land and sold the whole for $50 L 

Otis Crosby, Esq., came to town in 1781. He had been a physi- 
cian in Shrewsbury. It does not appear that he practised here, but he 
kept an apothecary store fifteen to eighteen years, and supplied the doc- 
tors in the region with drugs and medicines. He was appointed Post- 
master in 1795. For many years he was a noted Justice of the Peace,, 
and his Reeord Book reveals a rather low state of morals in those days. 
After a residence of about twenty-five years, in the house which he built,, 
where Mr. Jarvis Winn now lives,, he removed to Vermont, and died 
in Montpelier. 

Dr. Ziba Hall, resided here a few years beginning with 1790. He 
eame from and returned to Keene, N. H., where he obtained notorie- 
ty from the peculiarity ofrhis religious views. 

In 1793,. Dr. Mason Spooner took up his residence here as a physi- 
cian, by invitation of Dr. Whiton, his medical instructor. He remained 
about nine years, and then removed to Templeton. He was a man of 
sense, shrewdness and wit, and had a remarkable faculty for characteriz- 
ing obnoxious individuals with a few words which would stick to them like 
a burr through life. Nothing but the love of strong drink prevented 
him from rising to the front rank of the medical profession. He mar- 
ried one of the daughters of Major Sylvester. 

Dr. Jacob Holmes opened an office here, by advice of Dr. Whiton,, 
in 1804, and remained about two years ; he then removed to Westmin- 
ster, then to Athol, and finally to Leicester. He had a high reputa- 
tion and large practice. 

In the year 1806, in compliance with the wishes of Dr. Whiton, Dr. 
William Parkhurst began practice here, but after a few years re- 
moved to Petersham, where he still resides. His wife was a daughter 
of Major Sylvester. He has always maintained a good reputation as 
a physician. 

Dr. William H. Cutler came in 181&, and rode his circuit a few 




IkUMMM (§®wm. I 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 425 

years ; then removed to Ashburnham, where he resided till recently. 
His home is now in Andover. 

Dr. M. Spaulding succeeded him, but soon took his departure. 

Subsequently Dr. Allien C. Fay resided here a brief period, but soon 
removed to Milford, where he has a large practice. 

Dr. James M. Fuller was here from 1821 to 1824. Another Dr. 
Fuller resided here about the same time. 

In 1826, Dr. Alvah Godding, a pupil of the celebrated Dr. Twitch- 
ell of Keene, settled in the Centre, where nearly all the preceding phy- 
sicians had resided. As Dr. Whiton died in 1819, there was but a space 
of a few years between them, and they together have rilled out a term 
of about eighty-five years of medical practice. Whether as a citizen, 
a physician, or a member of the Church of Christ, he has always been 
held in high estimation. Like Dr. Whiton, he has represented the town 
in the General Court. He removed to the Village in 1841. 

Of the later physicians who are yet in active life and strength, it is not 
needful to speak at length. Dr. Ira Russell, who became a partner 
of Dr. Godding in 1844, who afterwards resided in Natick, and who 
gained a distinguished reputation as a Surgeon in the army, during the 
late rebellion, returned to town in 1866, and has an extensive practice. 

Dr. Miller was here a few years subsequent to 1853 ; he returned 
to Troy, N. H., whence he came. 

Dr. William Lincoln came in 1852, and remained a few years. 
He was held in high esteem. He is now practising in Wabashaw, Minn. , 
of which town he has been Mayor. 

In 1860, Dr. John T. Page commenced practice in the Village. 
His business grew by degrees, and he was esteemed a skillful physician 
by a large circle of patients in this vicinity. He was found dead in his 
office, early in the morning of the 27th day of December, 1866. 

Dr. M. L. Brown has opened an office here the present season. 

Dr. William P. Geddes entered on his profession here as an eclec- 
tic physician in 1854, and has had a large business in this and the neigh- 
boring towns. 

Tim soems the proper place to refer to a resident who, though not a 
physician, bore the title of doctor, and kept an apothecary store, with 
other articles of a miscellaneous sort. Dr. Pentland, so called, lived 



426 HISTORY OF WLNCHENDON. 

near the house of Mr. John Cook, not far from the Ashburnham line. 
He was a Scotchman who came here with some money, and afterwards 
visited Scotland, where he obtained more. But he was of unthrifty 
habits, and soon scattered all his substance. ^ According to Dr. Whi- 
ton, he carried on a farm as well as a store. He was a gentleman of pol- 
ished manners and general information, but he grew intemperate and 
dissipated, and at last, he and his wife became literally vagabonds, 
all their means having been consumed. Mr. John Woodbury recollects 
his going to the store to buy some potatoes when a boy. Mrs. Pent- 
land, dressed like a fine lady in silk, waited upon him and tore a wide 
rent in her dress. What became of them is not known, as they left 
town more than fifty years since. Dr. Whiton says " they might well 
be designated the unhappy pair." 

SECTION 4. — GRADUATES. 

Otis Crosby, though not a native, belonged to this town when he 
took his degree at Dartmouth College, in 1791. He studied for the 
ministry, and was invited to settle in New Gloucester, Me., but died 
of consumption prior to settlement. 

Rev. John Milton Whiton, D. D., son of Dr: Israel Whiton, took 
his degree at Yale College in 1805. He was settled for nearly half a 
century in Antrim, N. H., when he sought a field of labor requiring 
less exertion, in Bennington, N. H. He was a man of piety and wis- 
dom. His influence at home and far and wide among the Churches, 
was that of a discreet, peace-loving and godly minister of the gospel. 
He was superior in ability and scholarship. 

Rev. Samuel H. Tolman, son of Dea. Desire Tolman, was a grad- 
uate of Dartmouth, in 1806. He was settled in several places, one of 
which was Atkinson, N. H., and was a useful minister; of exemplary 
life and conversation. 

Stephen Emery, Jr., graduated at Dartmouth, in 1808, and set- 
tled as a lawyer, in Athol. 

Rev. Sewall Goodridge, son of Payson Goodridge, received his de- 
gree at Dartmouth in 1806. He preached in Canada. 

Rev. Otis C. Whiton, graduated at Yale College. He was a son 
of Dr. Israel Whiton. His ministerial life was passed in North Yar 
mouth, Me., Westmoreland N. H., and other places. He was a useful 
minister. 



HISTORY OP WINCHENDON. 427 

Rev. Gamaliel C. Beaman, son of David Beaman, took his degree 
at Amherst College. He has been a worthy Presbyterian minister, in 
Iowa, for many years. 

Hon, William B. Washburn, son of Asa and Phebe [Whitney] 
Washburn, is a graduate of Yale College, — class of 1844. He has been 
in Orange and in Greenfield, where he now resides. He is President 
of the Greenfield Bank, and Representative of the Ninth District in 
Congress. 

Rev. Samuel Watson Brown, son of Samuel Brown, Jr., gradu- 
ated at Yale College near 1850. After spending several years in teach- 
ing and in business, he was ordained in Rindge, N. H., in 1863. He 
preached in South Coventry and Groton, Conn. His death occurred 
in the latter place in the autumn of 1866, at the age of thirty-eight 
years. He was esteemed in every place of his residence, as a modest, 
sensible and christian man, as well as a faithful minister. 

Emerson C. Whitney took his degree at New Haven in 1851. He 
was a man of fine promise, but deceased at the age of twenty-nine, be- 
fore entering on his profession. Many high hopes were buried in his 
too early grave. 

Samuel Baldwin, Esq., son of Samuel Baldwin, took his degree 
at Yale College. He is a lawyer at the west. 

The more recent graduates are as follows : William W. Godding, 
M. D., a graduate of Dartmouth College, in the year 1854, now first 
assistant physician in the National Asylum for the Insane near Wash- 
ington, D. C; Jacob B. Harris, Esq., a graduate of Yale in the class 
of 1854, now a lawyer at East Abington, Mass.; John Nelson Mur- 
dock, Esq., a graduate of Brown University in 1852, now a lawyer at 
Wabashaw, Min.; Isaac M. Murdock, a graduate of Brown University 
in the year 1853 ; and Charles Edward Bigelow, who took his degree 
at Williams College in 1866. 

At present, Frederick Russell is a Senior, and Charles L. B. Whit- 
ney a Sophomore in Harvard University ; John Hale is a Sophomore 
in Amherst College ; and Addison B. Poland a Freshman in Wesley an 
University. 

In this connection may be given the names of certain natives, or res- 
idents of the town, who, though not graduates, have held a respectable 
position in some profession. 



428 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 

Artemas Brown, M. D., son of Samuel Brown, was born in 1789. 
He was a physician of honorable standing in Medway, where, after a 
long course of practise, he died within a few years. He was a mem- 
ber of the Constitutional Convention of 1853. 

Rev. David Woodbury, was son of Col. Jacob B. Woodbury. He 
is a clergyman of good reputation in the Baptist Church, and resides 
in Silver Creek, N. Y. 

Rev. Silas Woodbury is brother of the preceding. He is a respected 
minister in connection with the Presbyterian branch of the Church of 
Christ. His residence is in the State of Tennessee, Shelby Co. 

Rev. Andrew Pollard, D.D., a prominent clergyman in the Baptist 
denomination, is a native of Harvard, though he was in Winchendon 
in his early years. He has, for many years been pastor of a Church 
in Taunton. 

Dr. Abel»II. Wilder was the son of Levi Divoll. His surname was 
changed to that of his mother. He has lived in Groton and other places, 
and always maintained a respectable position as a physician. 

Levi Pillsbury, M. D., is the son of the Rev. Levi Pillsbury. His 
residence is in Fitchburg, where his practice is quite extensive. 

Rev. Moses Hale Wilder, son of Abel Wilder, Jr., and grandson of 
Hon. Abel Wilder and of Dea. Moses Hale, is a Congregational clergy- 
man of highly respectable standing. He has published a work on mat- 
ters pertaining to Church polity, with credit to his reputation. As a 
pastor, he has been successful. His present charge is at Paris, N. Y. 

The Hon. Carter Wilder, formerly member of Congress from Kan- 
sas, though not born in this town, lived here and attended our schools 
in his early years. He is the son of " one-eyed Abel," so called. The 
residence of the family was at the Pollard place, between the Bigelow 
farm and the old No. (3 school-house. 

Hon. W. W. Rice, of Worcester, is connected with Winchendon by 
ancestry and residence, though this is not his birth-place. A grand- 
son of Capt. Phinehas Whitney, he has been familiar with the town 
from early days, and his father, Rev. Benjamin Rice, lived here sev- 
eral years, while he was still a member of his father's family. He is 
a graduate of Gorham Academy, and of Bowdoin College. After hav- 
ing charge of the Leicester Academy a few years, he settled in Wor- 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 429 

cester as a lawyer, and has a large practice. He has been Mayor of 
the city, and for a time, Judge of Probate. 

Dr. Joshua Tucker, and Dr. Elisha Tucker, sons of the late vener- 
able Seth Tucker, have long had a high reputation as dentists in Bos- 
ton. Dr. Levi W. Foskett follows the same profession with success in 
this vicinity. 

Roswell M. Shurtleff, son of the late Dr. S., of Rindge, came here 
in childhood, and was trained in our schools. He is an artist of rising 
reputation in New York. This work is adorned with several products 
of his pencil. 

OTHER PROMINENT MEN. 

Hon. Thomas Berry of Ipswich, is often referred to in the first part 
of this work. As he was prominent in settling the town, and resided 
here occasionally, though not a permanent inhabitant, a few lines may 
be properly given to his memory. Dr. Fitts, of Ipswich, in a letter to 
Dr. Whiton, says that Col. Berry " was a very influential man here, 
both in Church and State. He was the most prominent member, he 
was a wise counsellor, and manifested great interest in the prosperity 
of religion and the cause of education. He was Judge of Probate of 
Essex county from 1789 to 1756, and for most of the time Judge of 
the county court also." , 

Dea. Richard Day, who came hither from Ipswich, as early as 1752, 
is believed to have been a native of Ireland. His wife, a daughter of 
Gabriel Pushey, was of French ancestry, in Acadia. Dea. Day was a 
large landholder, the tradition being that at one time, he owned near- 
ly a third of the town. The first proprietors parted with their lots at 
a very low price. It is said that some lots were sold for a mug of flip, 
so little money-value had land, in this remote place, during the time 
of Indian wars. Mr. Day built the best house in town, which is still 
standing. He also built a log tavern, which was in the orchard west 
of the house of Isaac Cummings. There Mary Holt, the first child of 
the town, had her birth. He was the most prominent man till his death, 
in 1774. He was the Moderator of the first town meeting, town Trea- 
surer for several years, and held other offices. He was the first dea- 



430 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 

con of the Con gre (rational Church. In addition to talents and charac- 
ter, he is said to have been a man of great physical strength. Three 
of his sons, John, Nathan and Daniel, were revolutionary soldiers. Na- 
than died of dysentery, in camp near Somerville. 

Hon. Abel Wilder was born in Leominster, April 15, 1741, old style, 
the 28th, new style. He Avas in Winchendon as early as 1762, and 
from that time till his decease in 1792, was constantly in public em- 
ployment. He was the first town Clerk, and he held, at different times, 
every office worth having. He Avas the first representative to the Gen- 
eral Court, after the Constitution was adopted, and from 1779 to 1792, 
was either in the House or the Senate, except a year or two when the 
toAvn sent no delegates. He represented the town in the first Consti- 
tutional Convention. At his decease the public mind Avas prepared to 
send him to Congress. He Avas chosen deacon of the First Church in 
1769. Mr. Wilder was a remarkable man. He was of stout build, 
and though not handsome, had a pleasant countenance and command- 
ing presence. Though in constant employment in public business, not 
only as an officer, but as a member, and generally chairman of every 
important committee in town, parish and church, he seems never to have 
provoked the jealousy and enA-y that usually folloAv superior men. 
Though a man of firm principle and unbending rectitude, and earnest 
piety, he appears to have been one of those rare men Avhose " enemies 
are at peace Avith him." His minister relied upon him, the public con- 
fided in him, the church rested on him as a pillar, and his family re- 
garded him with love and reverence. He fills the largest place in the 
history of the town. And as he Avas so useful in his life, so there Avere 
mitigating circumstances attending his lamented departure. He Avas 
chairman of the building Committee, in erecting the meeting-house in 
1792. The day he left home to go to Jaffrey, where he was inocula- 
ted for the small pox, of which he died, he passed over the Common. 
The men Avere leveling the land before the meeting-house, and when, 
after a feAv pleasant Avords, he rode on his Avay, the Avorkmen, Avith the 
ancient courtesy, took off their hats and boAved to him. He returned 
the salute, and was seen no more. When it appeared that his case Avas 
to have a fatal termination, Dr. Israel Whiton A'isited him, and received 
his parting directions respecting his business and family. He Avas cheer- 
ful and prepared for his departure. His grave, says a note from Mrs. 
Albert Brown, " is with six others, who died at the time, of the same 



HISTORY OP WINCHENDON. 431 

disease,*' on the farm owned by Mr. Benjamin Pierce, one mile north- 
east of East Jaffrey. The graves are enclosed, and there are grave- 
stones to two of them." Many letters of Mr. Wilder arc preserved, 
and if there were room, they would be inserted here, as illustrative of 
his noble character. Two of them may be found on pages 88 and 90. 

Dea. Moses Hale, a native of Boxford, came here in 1770. He 
lived for a time with Abel Wilder ; then became a surveyor and farmer, 
and after living on the south-east of the Common, west of the Gardner 
road, several years, he set up the Hale tavern. Next to Dea. Wilder, 
he filled the largest place in public estimation ; and after the death of 
Mr. Wilder, he was in the first rank. He filled many offices, and was, 
several years, delegate to the General Court, besides being delegate to 
the State Convention, for adopting the national Constitution. He was 
deacon of the Congregational Church for a long term of years preceding 
his decease in 1828. 

Capt. Phinehas Whitney, son of William Whitney, was the most prom- 
inent business man in the town from about 1800 to his death in 1831. 
Besides a large farm, he kept tavern for a while, owned an oil mill and 
woolen factory, and did a large business in raising and keeping cattle 
and horses. Though esteeemed by his townsmen, he was rarely in of- 
fice, because his engrossing business led him to decline public employ- 
ment. He was the first to enlist to put down the Shays rebels, being 
then a youth of twenty years. Afterwards he was Captain of the Cav- 
alry Company of this and neighboring towns. He was an indefatiga- 
ble worker, and kept all about him at work ; yet he was a good employ- 
er, and those brought up by him, remember him with respect and grat- 
itude. At the time of the great religious awakening in 1820-21, he 
paid the wages of his workmen whenever they were inclined to attend 



* The graves of three persons — two adults and a child — may still be found, 
on the " old Capt. John Pike place," now owned by Capt. Oliver Adams, about 
sixty rods south of the place long occupied by Asaph Brown, and thirty 
rods west of the road going from Levi Stearns' to the old burying-yard. 
There is a cellar and well in an old orchard. The town declined to furnish a 
"pest-house," but these three persons died here of the small pox, and their 
graves were forgotten till Mr. Simeon B. Stearns, of Williamsburgh, N. Y., 
who was on a visit here, this summer, 1868, informed the author. The graves 
— of two adults and one child — are within six feet of the north and south 
wall, and a few rods south of the wall running east and west. They are per- 
pendicular to the former wall. The names are not known. Double red roses, 
after seventy or eighty years, still flourish there — or did till recently — aud shed 
beauty aud fragrance over the lonely graves. 



432 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 

the week-day meetings. From that period, through life, he was deci- 
ded and devoted as a Christian. He was active as a pioneer in the Tem- 
perance reform. He died at Newton, while on a journey to Boston 
with his youngest daughter. But though summoned away while far 
from home, he was ready, as is the good man always, to go to " be for- 
ever with the Lord." 

Lieut. Paul Raymond, son of Col. Paul Raymond, was one of the 
foremost men in all public business, for a quarter of a century. His 
father was Lt. Col. in the Revolution, and the tradition is, that wliile 
the Colonel of the Regiment was generally sick or out of the way, in 
times of danger, Lt. Col. Raymond was a brave and competent com- 
mander. Lieut. Paul, was a brave revolutionary soldier, as well as 
his father, and also his brother James. Lieut. Raymond was Moder- 
ator, first Selectman, Assessor, Treasurer, &c, &c. ; and during along 
period, was on committees to manage cases before the Courts, and to 
build roads and bridges. He was the father of the late much esteemed 
Dea. Paul Raymond. 

Seth Tucker, Senior, settled early on the place now occupied by his 
son and grandson. He was a revolutionary soldier. As a man of in- 
dustry and integrity ; as a pioneer in the beginning of the Village, and 
as an exemplary member of the Baptist Church, he deserves honorable 
mention. The author remembers him as a venerable old man, to whose 
talks about old times, and on religious themes, he listened with interest. 
He attained the great age of 98 years. His grave is in the old bury- 
ing-yard. There was a remarkable spirit of fraternal confidence be- 
tween Mr. Tucker and his brother Elisha. Their first property was a 
hen owned in common. When they became men, and removed to Win- 
chendon, they owned a farm together. The house was in the lot north 
of the North school-house. Each took what he needed from the farm, 
but they made no division of crops. This went on until each had five 
children when they made a division of property satisfactory to both. 
Elisha died in the course of the year ensuing. 

Lieut. David Poor has already been mentioned in several places. He 
is referred to again because of his singular notions. One of them was 
that he should come back again, at some future time ; another was, that 
stones grow. Both these notions were brought together on one occa- 
sion. He was building a stone wall, and a neighbor remarking that it 



HISTORY 03? WINCHENDON. 433 

'was too low, he replied : " Well, it will grow, and when I come back, 
it will be high enough," Another anecdote may be given. Having 
a quarrel with a neighbor named Bosworth, who threatened violence, 
Lieut. Poor came before Esq.Crosby to " swear the peace" upon him. 
As the Esq. read the paper to which Poor was to take oath, he listened 
attentively till the passage was reached which stated that he was in 
bodily fear of Bosworth, when he could hold in no longer, and burst out : 
" No : I'm not afraid of him, and never was." f* Mr. Poor," said Esq, 
Crosby, " you had better go home and be quiet." 

Col Jacob B. Woodbury is worthy of a place in this series of sketch- 
es. He came from Ipswich, after the Revolution, in which he had been 
a faithful soldier and good officer. The record of his military life would 
furnish several interesting pages in a family higtory, but there is not 
room for it in this condensed volume. The story of his contest with the 
wolf, however, must not be omitted. About eighty years ago, — the 
exact year is not known by his surviving sons — word came to him that 
a wolf had been tracked from Hubbardston into the southern border of 
this town. The hunters were fatigued with the long chase in the snow, 
and handed over the pursuit to Woodbury and his neighbors, one of 
whom was his brother-in-law, Roberts. They got upon the track, and 
pursued the animal to the ledge of rocks north of James Raymond's, 
nearly half way from Raymond's to the Perley, or Joseph Whitney 
place. While the dogs followed the wolf over the ledge, the men skirt- 
ed its eastern base, expecting to meet the game at the northern end. 
Their expectation was confirmed, but the leading dog and the wolf had 
evidently had a fight, in which the dog fared hard, as he could not be 
induced to close with the wolf again. He followed with the men, but 
his courage was gone. The pursuit was continued into the Manning 
swamp, southwest of the Estey, or No. 5 school-house. The men drew 
near the animal, the Col. heading the party. He snapped his gun, but 
it held fire, the priming being wet by the moist snow that fell from the 
branches. Mr. Woodbury then followed the victim along the body of a 
fallen tree, and when near enough, gave him a stunning blow on the 
head with the butt of his gun. This staggered the wolf, now fatigued 
with his race and his struggle with the dog. Mr. W. now threw him- 
self upon the body of the wolf, and pressed him into the snow. The 
animal made desperate effort to rise, and to assail his antagonist, but 

28 



434 HISTORY OF WINCHENDOS". 

the Col. held on with a fatal grip. He called to Roberts for his jack- 
knife. Reaching from a safe distance, the knife was put in his hand, 
when he cut the wolf's throat, and the contest was over. The body 
was swung under a staddle, and carried on the shoulders of the men, 
to Mr. Woodbury's house as a trophy. That was the last and the most fa- 
mous wolf fight in the annals of the town. It should be said that Col. 
Woodbury was not only a brave soldier, but a good farmer, a respect- 
ed citizen often in public employment, and a faithful member of the 
First Church. An interesting sermon was delivered at his funeral, by 
Rev. Mr. Morton. This was printed, and stray copies of it are yet 
extant. 

Ephraim Murdock, Esq., Isaac Morse, Esq. , and Mr. Amasa Whit- 
ney, are placed in this* list of worthies, because they really laid the 
foundations of the growth and prosperity of the Village. By their in- 
dustry, frugality, foresight and enterprise, the business, of the town was 
largely increased. They were all in public employment somewhat, and 
had much influence in town and parish affairs, but their mark was made 
as men of business. They were contemporaries here for almost half a 
century. They were men of good morals, of temperate habits, support- 
ers of religious institutions, prudent as well as enterprising, and there- 
fore did much to give character to the place. It is owing in large meas- 
ure, to their example and their instructions, that business has ever been 
done here on a safe scale, and that there have been but few failures, 
in hard times. It is the habit of the place to pay debts. May the in- 
fluence of these men, as relates to integrity, good habits and upright- 
ness in business, continue till the Village becomes a city, and through 
all its history. 

Mr. Joel Butler was born in Newton. If not, he attended school 
there in childhood, as the following instructive anecdote will prove. He 
used to relate that on one occasion, the old minister of Hopkinton came to 
examine the school. Some of the children were guilty of bad behav- 
ior. The old gentleman took no notice of this till he came to the clos- 
ing prayer, when he gave a lesson that could not be forgotten. He 
prayed as follows : "0 Lord, bless these children ; for thou knowest 
that if they were well brought up at home, they would not act so like 
sarpents in school." A truth as applicable now as it was ninety years 
ago. Mr. Butler came into town in 1826, from Townsend, where, 




m , m«MM&®&, wms^irn 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 435 

aear the east border of Ashby, lie had a mill and farm. In company 
with his son, Ebenezer, he purchased the Butler mill place, and a large 
tract of land around it, and there he lived to the great age of almost 
ninety-nine years. He was an industrious, intelligent man, and his 
faculties held out remarkably well. He was interested in all that per- 
tained to the welfare of the Church of Christ, and was better versed 
than most people, in the prophetic Scriptures, and the literature per- 
taining to them. It was remarked at his funeral, that he had proba- 
bly known persons who had seen some of the first settlers of Boston, 
and perhaps, some of those who came over in the Mayflower. 

The following paragraphs ought to have found a place on page 427 : 
The Hon. Artemas Hale, of Bridgewater, son of Dea. Moses Hale, 
is one of those who not only confer honor on the place of their birth, 
but who hold their native town in kind remembrance. He has ex- 
pressed to the author his deep interest in the fortunes of the town, and 
in its forthcoming History. In early life he was engaged in survey- 
ing, and teaching school. He settled in Bridgewater when a young 
man, where he has acquired wealth, and at the same time, the respect 
and confidence of the community. He has represented his district in 
Congress, and held other offices of honor and trust. 

Rev. Eliot Payson, son of Eliot, and gr.-son of James Payson, was 
born in 1808. While young he removed to central New York with 
his father's family. It is probable that he graduated at Hamilton Col- 
lege, in Clinton, near Utica, as that was the only College in those days 
west of Schenectady. He has been, for many years, a respected min- 
ister of the Presbyterian Church. A sermon delivered by him, in the 
North Congregational Church, fifteen or twenty years since, is still dis- 
tinctly remembered. It was very impressive. 

Oliver Lovejoy, M. D., son of Oliver Lovejoy, is a native of this 
town. He received a good academical education ; obtained the disci- 
pline which comes from keeping school, in which calling he was very 
successful ; and then studied medicine with great thoroughness. Af- 
ter being engaged as assistant physician in Insane Hospitals at Provi- 
dence, R. I., and Brattleboro, Vt., he took up his residence as a phy- 
sician at Haverhill, where he enjoys a high reputation and has an ex- 
tensive practice in his profession. 

Rev. A. Hastings Ross had his birth in Winchendon. By persist- 



436 HISTORY OP WINCHENDON. 

ent effort, and constant reliance on divine aid, he worked himself into 
and through Oberlin College. His theological education was chiefly 
obtained in Audover Seminary. After a few years' settlement in Boyl- 
ston, he removed, two or three years since, to the city of Springfield, 
Ohio, where he is the efficient pastor of the Congregational Church. 

It is quite possible that there are others who have conferred honor 
on their birth-place, and who are equally deserving of honorable men- 
tion. If so, they and their friends will understand that their names 
have not been omitted by design. 

" Think not that these alone deserve the praise, 
As worthy children of their Mother-town j 
But all her daughters fair and sons, whose days 
With blessed deeds have wrought her jewel'd crown: 
These by their toil, their love, their holy vow, 
Have bound immortelles round their Mother's brow." 

Old F airplay. 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 437 



CHAPTER XXXI. — MISCELLANEOUS 



"So various, that the mind 
Of desultory man, studious of change 
And pleas'd with novelty, might be indulg'd." 

Cowpee. 

Several topics will receive attention in this chapter ; some, because 
they defy classification, and others, because they were overlooked at the 
proper place, 

SECTION 1. — INVENTIONS. 

There has been much ingenuity displayed in the workshops of Win- 
chendon from their first establishment. Many improvements in ma- 
chinery that do not rank with inventions, and for which no patents are 
taken out, are familiar to mechanics. 

Some of the important inventions made by residents of Winchendon, 
are referred to below. . 

Richard Stuart was a contriver in mechanics, and among other things 
conceived the idea of bending a saw round the edge of a cylinder, and 
thus sawing circular stuff. 

Dea. Reuben Hyde, however, was the real inventor of the cylinder 
or barrel saw, of which he had the patent, till it was sold for the trifling 
sum of fifty dollars. 

Jacob Simonds was the inventor «f a combination of saws of differ- 
ent sizes, for cutting out the fluting of wash-boards. 

Edward Loud invented a revolving cylinder for fluting wooden wash- 
boards. 

Lewis Robbins invented the machine for making clothes-pins with ra- 
pidity. Formerly the process was slow ; noAv the pins are turned, sawed 
and shaved as if by magic. 

Polycrates Parks is an ingenious contriver of mechanical improve- 
ments. 



438 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 

Edwin Parks is the inventor of an auger-faucet which bores into the 
barrel-head. Of course, it just fits the hole, and there is no spirting 
between withdrawing the auger and inserting the faucet. 

Col. William Murdock invented a bobbin for the mills in Lawrence, 
which is still in use. His special improvement in jack-spools has been 
adopted by others in all improved spools. A more recent bobbin of his 
is now coming into use. 

The Parks brothers make an improved jack-spool in large quantity. 

Stephen Ketchum is the inventor of an improved method of screw- 
ing the ends of pipe together, thus dispensing with soddering together, 
and cutting apart. He has also made improvements in the sewing ma- 
chine. His chopping-knife is manufactured by himself and Sumner 
Loud. 

Quimby S. Backus has invented a machine to print labels for spools, 
&c. ; also a vice ; and still another for cutting slate pencils. 

Lyman Jennings i3 the inventor of a machine for cutting or slicing 
off, instead of sawing veneers. 

John G. Folsom has made several improvements of sewing machines. 

Jonathan Carter is the inventor of a neat method of painting the 
" star pails." 

Baxter D. Whitney's first patent was for a machine for stretching 
wrinkles out of cloth while in the process of fulling. A machine of his for 
smoothing hard wood lumber after passing through the ordinary planer, 
is in general use ; it has been patented in several European countries. 
The same is true also of his gauge lathe, and his improvements in cyl- 
inder planers. He is the inventor also of a machine for grinding cylin- 
der saws. The latter has been patented in this country. He obtained 
a silver medal for the smoothing machine and the gauge lathe, at the 
Great Exposition at Paris, in 1867. A picture of the medal is insert- 
ed opposite. 

SECTION 2. — LAPIDARIES. 

The author does not know where the people of this town obtained 
their monumental stone work in former times ; but of late years, they 
have been fortunate in this respect. Mr. Tateum, who was here some 
fifteen years ago* was an excellent workman in marble, granite, and oth- 



w 

Ifc=M 

9=* 




JfcsJ 




HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 439 

er kinds of stone ; and Mr. George H. Allyn, now in the establishment 
of Mr. Henry Peck, has made his calling a fine art. 

SECTION 3. — ANTIQUITIES. 

There is very little in a town so recently settled as Winchendon, that 
has the flavor of antiquity. Some things, however, which are relative- 
ly ancient, may be notice"d. 

The oldest house in the town is a few rods west of the south end of 
the Common. It has already been stated that this house was built in 
17G2, by Dea. Richard Day. The picture of it may disappoint some 
because the tall elms in front are not given. But it was deemed best 
to give the house without accessories which must have had a place if 
the elms were included. The roof originally was not four-sided. The 
same house appears in connection with the old meeting-house on page 
151. It has recently become the property of Mr. D. E. Poland, of 
Boston, a native of the town. For convenience the picture is inserted 
between pages 44 and 45. 

The house occupied by Dexter Bruce is made of materials taken from 
the two story house of Hon. Abel Wilder, which stood on the same spot. 
The house of Joshua Nutting is the old two story house of Hananiah 
Whitney, Sen., razeed. Both these houses were built quite early. The 
old house long occupied by Joseph Whitney, Sen., and now inhabited 
by Mr. Page, formerly belonged to Dudley Perley. The low L part 
of that house is much more ancient than the house itself, and was part 
of the first house of Mr. Perley. The house of the late Esq. Murdock, 
by the great elm, and Mr. Winn's house, built by Esq. Crosby, are 
both ancient, for Winchendon, and are still in good repair. Fragments 
of the old meeting-house on Tallow Hill, may still be seen at Mr. Wes- 
ton's, near whose house it stood. The old " Society House," which 
was the cradle of the New Boston Baptist Church is still standing, some 
twenty rods north of Daniel Day's. James McElwain, the tavern-keep- 
er, bought the old meeting-house in the Centre, in 1792, and probably 
the timbers are still in use. In this connection the following extract 
from the Reeords, which was not found when the chapter on the Par- 
ish was printed, finds its plaee. 

" A record of tire pew ground sold at publie vendue, the fourth day of Sep- 
tember, A. D. 1765, by Richard Day, John Darling and Theos. Mansfield, 
Committee men, and a list of the men's names that purchased the same. 



440 



HISTORY OF WnrCHBNDOlF. 



No. 



16, 


struck off to Silas Whitney, for 9 dollars. 




1. 


[< 


Daniel Goodridge, ' 


' 10 


it 




10, 


it 


Joseph Stimson, ' 


' 5 


tt 




15, 


m 


Theos. Mansfield, ' 


' 10 


a 


1 quar. 


4, 


a 


Pea. Richard Day, ' 


' 8 


tt 


1 quar- 


11, 


-' 


Ephraim Stimsoa, ' 


' 10 


t( 


1 half. 


9, 


" 


Dea. Richard Day, ' 


' 10 


tt 


1 half. 


s, 


U 


Silas Whitney ' 


' 16 


tt 


1 quarter 


12, 


(( 


Benoni Boynton, ' 


' 11 


tt 




IS, 


<■< 


John Darling, ' 


• 8- 


it. 


I half. 


14, 


ft 


Abel Wilder, 


' 9 


tt 


1 half. 


2, 


(( 


Jonathan Foster, ' 


' 10 


tl 




3, 


16 


AM Wilder, 


' 9 


It 




5, 


tt 


Jonathan Stirason, 


7 


11 




C\ 


11 


Jonathan Stimson, 


11 


M 




7, 


U 


Jonathan Stimson, 


15 


t< 


1 half/ r 



Other buildings might be mentioned, as well as the half buried re- 
mains of numerous old dams, mills and bridges ; but they are not of 
sufficient interest to attract pilgrims- to their sites. 

The gun and powder-horn which are here represented:, belong to Mr. 
Luke Rice, who received them from his father, Lieut. Benjamin Rice, 
a revolutionary worthy. He bought them of Robert Bradish, Sen., who- 
used them both, when acting as a scout, in this neighborhood, in the 
last French and Indian war. The gun was made in England in 173T. 
Both articles therefore, besides being antique, have an historical interest. 




Mr. Jacob Woodbury ho,s an old hatchet which was carried to Que- 
bec, in Arnold's expedition through the wilds of Maine, by Jonathan 
Pollard. In his hands it was not only a convenient tool, but a formida- 
ble weapon, and on more than one occasion, was the means of saving 
his life. 

In this connection it Is appropriate to refer to the old " Block Hous- 
es" again. It was stated on a former page that there was one at CoL 
Berry's, now Samuel Woodbury's. It was on the Berry farm, but was 
east of the house about half way to the John and Joshua Gill place, 
on the north side of the road, where the cellar may still be seen. 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 441 

It was also stated that there was one east of the Tallow Hill school- 
house. In strict truthfulness, this log house, of the Boyntons and Ed- 
dys, was the old block house of Bullardville, moved and built anew. 

The block house on Jacob Hale's farm, was not near the Waterville 
school-house, as previously stated, but east of Merritt Hale's, on the 
north side of the road near the top of the hill. 

If relics properly come under this head, it may be mentioned that 
human bones were found, many years since, on the eastern shore of Den- 
ison lake. By some they were supposed to be Indian remains. 

SECTION 4. WILD ANIMALS. 

Allusions have been made to the fact that wild animals were preva- 
lent here, and in this region, for years after the first settlement. The 
howl of the wolf was often heard, and his prowlings in the sheep pas- 
tures were more fatal than when chasing after Dr. Whiton's leg of veal. 

Bears were also met with occasionally. Since the present century 
came in, a she-bear and two cubs were seen not far f^om the Evans place, 
by Mr. Luke Rice (then a boy,) and others. Though pursued, it made 
its escape. 

Poisonous serpents are rarely if ever met with in our borders. 

SECTION 5. HORSES. 

The people of this town have long been noted for liking good horses. 
Perhaps the fact that the Messrs. Whitney, — William and Phinehas — 
raised, bought and kept so many horses, had some influence in creating 
this preference for good animals. However this may be, the writer 
found here, twenty-five years ago, a large number of excellent horses ; 
and the number has largely increased since that time. Many farmers 
are particular to have a good horse ; the team-horses are large and 
strong ; and many families have spirited and elegant teams. Fast hors- 
es are sometimes associated with " fast young men," but thus far, we 
have been favored with the former without the drawback of the latter. 
In addition it is pertinent to the subject to say, that the stables of Whit- 
comb & Fairbanks, Wood & Rand, and the more recent one of J. Morse, 
are well supplied with horses which keep up the credit of the town in 
this regard. 

SECTION 6. — WHITE CEDARS AND WHITE SWALLOWS. 

It seems that the " white cedars" of Winchendon are referred to in 



442 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 

Wood's Botany. It would therefore be a censurable omission if the 
author failed to say that Hon. Elisha Murdock formerly owned about 
four acres of this species of wood, so rare in this section of country. It 
was cut up and used in the manufacture of those elegant pails made of 
alternate white and red cedar staves, which many families will remem- 
ber. One in the writer's possession, a gift from Mr. Murdock, is still 
as " good as new," and as fragrant as the " cedars of Lebanon." Not 
less fragrant, in a moral sense, is the memory of many years service 
with him, in the cause of education, of temperance, and of freedom. 

In the years 1865, 6 and 7, one or two specimens of the white swal- 
low, were seen in the Village, by a few persons. They were near, on 
each occasion but one, the bridge by Goodspeed & Wyman's. Their 
singular appearance attracted attention. 

SECTION 7. — OLD ELMS. 

The wide-branching elm between the houses of Reuben Vose, Jr., 
and Charles J. Rice, on the old Common, was set out a little more than 
a hundred years ago, by Mr. Stimson, the first minister. Long may 
it honor his memory. The elms in front of the old Day house are an- 
cient. It is not certainly known who planted them ; but it is probable 
that Mr. Brown, the second minister, deserves the credit. Dea. Day 
was killed before people generally felt like setting out shade trees. 
The whole endeavor was to get trees out of the way. As Mr. Brown 
lived in the house during several years, and as the trees seem too old 
to have been planted by any one since his day, it will be safe to ascribe 
the planting to him till the claims of some other worthy are proved. 
It is known that he was fond of frees, and that he Avas engaged in set- 
ting out apple trees between the house and the Common on the day 
of the battle of Bunker Hill, and the tradition is that he heard the 
big guns. 

The old elm in front of the house of Mrs. George Brown, was quite 
a tree when the late Esq. Murdock built the house. The planter of 
it is not known to the author. There is a double row of fine elms in 
front of the house of Mr. Luke Rice, most of which were set out by 
his father, Lt. Benjamin Rice. Mr. Rice has many beautiful maples 
also. He has the only shag-bark walnut trees in the town. Indeed, 
there are but two or three walnut trees of any kind in any other part 
of the town. 



HISTORY OF WINCIIENDON. 443 

SECTION 8. — WINCHENDON AS A PLACE OF RESORT. 

It is a curious fact that this town had a reputation — rather limited 
to be sure — as a place of resort, fifty years and more ago. The " vir- 
tuous spring" at Spring Village was visited by many who drank the 
water for their health. Mr. Ahijah Wood kept a public house for their 
accommodation. If proper means were taken, the place would be 
thronged with summer visitors. 

The beautiful Denison lake, has always been a resort, in the sum- 
mer season, by those living not very remote. A good hotel there would 
bring its quota of patrons. 

The Village is too busy to attend to company, and the hotel of Mr. 
Fairbanks, though well kept, and free from the loaferism which makes 
many village taverns disgusting, is generally full of boarders residing 
here. If enlarged, or if the proprietor should open another for the 
special accommodation of transient visitors and summer boarders, it 
would, without doubt, be filled. 

SECTION 0. — SECRET SOCIETIES. 

It has been stated incidentally, on other pages, that an association 
of Odd Fellows was in existence here about twenty years since ; and 
that the temperance cause has been furthered by Sons of Temperance 
and Good Templars. At present there is a Lodge of Free Masons, 
called the Artisan Lodge. It is said to be in a flourishing condition. 

SECTION 10. POPULATION AND VALUATION. 

The population of the town, at various dates, in the last century, 
has been given in former chapters. The following figures show the 
[rradual increase of inhabitants from decade to decade. 



In 1790, 


94G 


In 1830, 


1463 


" 1800, 


1092 


" 1840, 


1754 


" 1810, 


1178 


" 1850, 


2445 


" 1820, 


1263 


" 1860, 


2624 



The population is now greater than at the last census, but the exact 
lumber of the inhabitants is not known. 

At ono time the valuation of this town was below that of all the towns 
q the county, except two or three. In 1865, the valuation was $1, 
L60,952. In 1868, it was $1,537,126. 



444 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 



CHAPTER XXXII. — GENEALOGY AND 
PERSONAL HISTORY. 



" True is, that whilome that good poet said, 

That gentle mind by gentle deed is known, 
For man by nothing is so well bewray'd 
As by his manners, in which plain is shown 
Of what degree and what race he is grown." 

Spenser. 
• 
" How poor are all hereditary honors, 
Those poor possessions from another's deeds, 
Unless our own just virtues form our title, 
And give a sanction to our fond assumptions I" 

Shirley. 

This chapter must be brief, for two reasons, either of which is suffi- 
cient. The first is, that though families have been desired, publicly 
and privately, to furnish their family history, but few have responded. 
The author is however indebted to a few who have aided him in this 
regard, to whom he hereby tenders his thanks. Mrs. Dudley Whitney, 
Hon. Artemas Hale, Miss Orelba Hale, Mr. Nelson W. "Wyman and 
Mr. Luke Rice are entitled to special mention for the amount of infor- 
mation furnished by them. 

The other cause of brevity is the firm conviction that genealogy and 
family history have no legitimate place in municipal history. Many fam- 
ilies are to be found in scores of towns in New England ; some of them 
in hundreds of towns. The time is coming when all these towns will have 
their history. It follows that if genealogy is to have its place in them 
all, the same matter will be printed hundreds of times. The true meth- 
od is, for families to gather their own history and genealogy into sep- 
arate volumes respectively. This will save expense and subserve the 
convenience of all. But in accordance with the promise made in the 
Proposals for publishing this volume, a few pages of genealogy and fami- 
ly history will be given. The author holds himself responsible for no 



HISTORY OP WINCHENDON. 445 

omissions. Those who have neglected to furnish facts, have no right 
to complain if they are not published. A few families only are men- 
tioned here except those in town previous to the year 1800. The best 
method of arranging genealogical facts is probably that of Hon. Charles 
Hudson in his valuable Histories of Marlboro' and Lexington ; but as 
only two or three generations are given in this chapter, no special at- 
tention to method is required. The residences of the families can in 
most cases be found on the maps in this volume. 

ADAMS. 

Col. Benjamin Adams settled here after the Shays rebellion, and lived at 
the north end of the Common. He married Zeruiah, daughter of Joseph Boyn- 
ton. His children, were : 

1. Benjamin, b. Nov. 3, 1794, m. Susannah Alger; 2. Zeruiah, b. Sept. 
4, 1796, m. Lyman Raymond; 3. Eunice, b. Aug. 11, 1798, m. Arba Reed ; 
4. Olive, b. Dec. 20, 1800, m. John Longley ; 5. Oliver, b. July 24, 1804, 
m. Chastina Stone; 6. Joseph, b. Oct. 20, 1805, m. Hannah Whitney; 7. 
Albert, died young. 

ALGER. 

David Alger lived just west of the bridge over Miller's river, beyond the 
Fry place. He came from Bridge water, and settled in Winchendon about 
the year 1794. His children were : 

1. 'Chloe, b. Jan. 7, 1793, at Bridgewater; 2. Jonathan, b. in W., Sept. 
20, 1795 ; 3. David, b. Oct. 3, 1798 ; 4 and 5. Joseph and Benjamin, b. 
Jan. 13, 1804; 6. Susanna, b. Dec. 30, 1806, m. Benj. Adams, Jr. ; 7. 
Sarah, b. Sept. 12, 1814. David Alger died Oct. 22, 1810. 

Abiel Alger, came from Bridgewater, with his br. David in 1793 or 94. 
The christian name of his wife was Rhoda. Children : 

1. Olive b. Oct.9, 1789; 2. Vina, b. Apr. 1, 1791; 3. Abiel, b. Mar. 
19, 1793; 4. Chloe, b. Nov. 11, 1794; 5. Sylvia, b. July 30, 1796, and 
two others. 

BALCOM. 

Gideon Balcom, son of Daniel Balcom, m. Anna Hale. Several of their chil- 
dren died in 1810-11, during the great mortality among children. Of those 
who survived, were : 

1. Lincoln, m. Abigail Raymond; and 2. Sabrina, m. C. C. Alger. 

BALL. 

Phinehas Ball lived in the first house south of Miller's river, a mile beyond 
Waterville, on the road to Royalston. This was the Oaks place. He had a 
son, Joel Ball. 

BARRETT. 

Thornton Barrett and Abigail, his wife, had children : 

1. Hannah, b. "May 4, 1768 ; 2. John, b. Apr. 26, 1773 ; 3. Jerusha, 



446 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 

b. Mar. 20, 1775 ; 4. Thornton, b. Mar. 27, 1777 ; 5. Samuel, b. Aug. 9, 
178*; G. Joseph, b. July 1, 1783; 7. Henry, b. Dee. 1, 178*; 8. Na- 
thaniel, b. July 15, 178*. 

BATTLES. 

Noah Battles and Miranda his wife had children : 

1. Jairus, b. Oct. 17, 1785; 2. Philander, b. Dec. 5, 1798; 3. Lucin- 
da, b. March 5, 1791 ; 4. Noah b. March 31, 1793. The above were bom 
in Seituate. 5. Fanny, b. Oct. 3, 1795 ; 0. Susey, b. Jan. 14, 1798 ; 7. 
Naaraan, b. June 10, 1800; 8. Lewis, b. March 12, 1803; 9. Nabbe, b. 
June 14, 1805. 

BEALS. 

Stower Deals m. Mary Leavitt. Children : 

1. Martha, m. Cyrus Pierce; 2. Mary, m. Hananiah Whitney, Jr. ; 3. 
George L. m. Nancy Norcross. 

Lt. Samuel Beals and Eunice his wife had children : 

1. Jonathan; 2. Madison; 3. Wilder; 4. Eunice A. ; 5. Samuel; 6, 
Mary P.; 7. Nathaniel. 

BEAM AN. 

Gamaliel Beaman had a son David. 
David m. Polly Carter, and had children: 

1. Gamaliel Carter, b. 31arch 20, 1799 ; 2. Elisha. b. Sept. 22, 1800 ; 
3. Sally T., b. Sept. 29, 1802; 4. David W., b. Aug. 29, 1804; 5. 
Melas, b. July 31, 1806, d. Oct. 13, 1808; 6. Mary Anu, b. Dec. 4, 
1808; 7. Prudence W., b. Jan. 7, 1811 ; 8. "Harriet, b. Jan. 8, 1814; 
9. Eliza, b. Aug. 19, 1816; 10. William, b. Sept. 16, 1818. 

BEAMIS. 

Abel Bemis or Beamis, b. May 10, 1772. Susanna, his wife, b. Feb. 10, 
1780. Children : 

1. Rebecca, b. Feb. 20, 1803; 2. Loiza, b. Dec. 2, 1805 ; 3. Sarah, b. 
Feb. 23, 1806; 4. Susan, b. May 27, 1807; 5. Dolly, b. Aug. 10, 1809; 
6. Roxanna,b. March 1, 1811 ; 7. Reuben, b. Oct. 25, 1813; 8. Abel, b. 
Nov. 30, 1815 ; 9. Svlvester, b. Nov. 6, 1816, d. July 11, 1818 ; 10. Mer- 
ric, b. March 23, 1820; 11. Lavinia H, b. Feb. 10, 1822; 12. Lucinda 
R., b. Sept. 6, 1S23. 

Jason Bemis had a blacksmith shop, 60 to 70 years ago, near the top of 
the hill from the Village to the Centre. Children : 

1. Jason; 2. Amos; 3. Joel; 4. Luke; 5. James. 

BENJAMIN. 

Andrew Benjamin and Mary Pierce his wife had children : 
1. Stephen, b. Feb. 13, 1778; 2. Amos, b. Jan. 6, 1780; 3. Betsey, 
b. Aug. 13, 1781 ; 4. Francis, b. Apr. 9, 1784; 5. Jonathan, b. May 20, 



The figure is worn off the Records. 



HISTORY OF WINCHENBON. 447 

1786; 6. Charles, b. March 7, 1789; 7. Levi, l>. July 18, 1791 ; 8. Pol- 
ly, b. May 13, 179-1 ; 9. Sally, b. Oct. 26, 1796. The two eldest were born 
in Ashby, Betsey in Fitzwilliam, and the last six in Winchendon. 

BIGELOW. 

Roger Bigelow and Mary his wife had children : 

1. Eunice, b. Apr 21, 1783; 2. Mercy, b. July 4, 1785; 3. Samuel, 
b. Sept. 11, 1787; 4. Alpheus, b. Aug. 4, 1789; 5, Ezra P., b. July, 
1791. 

Solomon Bigelow was the father of 

1. Benjamin; 2. Ebenezer ; 3. Sally; 4. Patty; 5. Asa. 

Ebenezer Bigelow, m. Sally Wales. Children : 

1. Grate, b. Oct. 19, 1796; 2. Joseph, b. May 6, 1798; 3. John, b. 
Jan. 31, 1800; 4. Louis, b. May 18, 1802; 5. Sally, b. June 29, 1804. 

BIXBY. 

Daniel Bixby was here in 1763 ; Nathaniel in 1764. 

Levi Bixby, son of Nathaniel and Jerusha [Houghton] Bixby, his wife, 
of Lancaster, was born Aug. 7, 1743, and moved to Winchendon about the 
time of his marriage with Ruth Barling, which occurred Oct. 2, 1766. Chil- 
dren by first wife : 

1 and 2. Lois and Eunice, twins, b. Apr. 5, 1768. Lois in. .Sept. 
28, 1794, Obil Fassett, and lived in Jaffrey, where some of her descend- 
ants now reside. Eunice m. Barnabas Miller and moved to Wcstboro. 3. 
Zibiah, b. Oct. 17, 1770, and m. Ephraim Murdock ; 4. Lucinda, b. May 

8, 1773, m. Gardner Wilder, and had several children; 5. Levi, b. Feb. 

2, 1776, m. Nancy Pierce, March 29, 1803. He moved to Boston. Mrs. 
Bixby d. in 1778, and Mr. Bixby m., May 13, 1779, Tabitha Foster Boyn- 
ton, widow of Stephen Boynton. Children: 6. Stephen, b. Dec. 8, 1780, 
killed Sept. 8, 1800, by insane Daniel Robbins ; 7. Ruth, b. Dec. 21, 
1782, m. Richard Stuart, March 29, 1803 ; 8. Tabitha, b. Sept. 26, 1784, 
m., June 7, 1801, John Green, and moved to Paris, Oneida Co,, N. Y. ; 

9. Persis, b. Oct. 5,1786, m. Sept. 17, 1805, Andrew Fowler, and moved 
to Rupert, Vt. 

Levi Bixby died Oct. 5, 1803, and his widow married for her third hus- 
band, Nov. 13, 1810, Benjamin Eddy, b. Oct. 20, 1739, and was gr. gr. 
grandson of "John Eddy who came to Plymouth from Suffolk Co., England, 
Oct. 29, 1630." He was a soldier in Col. Putnam's regiment in the Revo- 
lution. Widow Tabitha, who seems to have provided a home for her last two 
husbands, died Feb. 10, 1845, aged 96 years, at the house of her son-in-law, 
Richard Stuart. 

• Nathaniel Bixby was a brother of Levi, and m. a sister of Samuel Brown. 
Children: 

1 . Amos ; 2. Hannah ; 3. Lincoln ; 4. Betsey. 

Keziah Bixby, sister of the above, was the wife of Richard Parsons, and of 

Amos Heywood. 



448 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 

Daniel and Jonathan Bixby were not brothers of Levi. The former had 
these children : 

1. Daniel, b. in 1763 ; Aaron, b. in 1765. 

Adonijah Bixby and Mary his wife had children : 

1. Abel; 2. Polly; 3. Lucy; 4. Dolly; 5. Adonijah; 6. Sarah, all 
born between 1782 and 1792. 

BOSWORTH. 

Walsingham Bosworth m. Mary Piper. Children : 

1. Anna, b. Dec. 26, 1798; 2. Nabby, b. March 31, 1800; 3. Olive, 
b. June 27, 1801 ; 4. Katharine, b. March 15, 1804; 5. Josiah P., b. June 
19, 1808; 6. Jonathan, b. Sept. 18, 1810. 

BOWKER. 

Asa Bowker, Sen. m. Hannah Harwood. Children : 

William and Asa. 

William and Sally Bowker had children : 

1. Dexter, b. Apr. 22, 1806 ; 2. Sullivan, b. March 28, 1808 ; 3 and 4. 
John and Aaron, b. Apr. 8, 1811. 

Asa and Joanna Bowker had children : 

1. Esther, b. Sept. 9, 1817 ; 2. Abigail, b. Jan. 16, 1819 ; 3. Levi, b. 
Feb. 4, 1821 ; 5. Ephraim, b. Jan. 25, 1825 ; 6. Joanna, b. March 26, 
1828; 7. Abigail, b. July 4, 1830. The last three were children of his 
wife Nabby. 

BOYNTON. 

Benoni Boynton was here in 1754. He and a brother (probably Ephraim, 
who was a settler as early as 1762,) held a large lot extending from a point 
near the Tallow Hill school-house, east so far as to include nearly all of Bul- 
lardville. It reached south of Levi Parks' house. It included upland, low- 
land and water privileges. They had a block-house in the French and Indian 
war, in Bullardville, between the road and the river, south of the present Parks 
pond. One day, hearing a click, and seeing over the bushes the head of an 
Indian, they took refuge in the block-house. Then taking a gun, they fled 
to the McElwain, or more probably, the Day tavern, in the Centre. The au- 
thor knows nothing of the descendants of Benoni and Ephraim Boynton. Af- 
ter the war the block-house was taken down, and set up as a dwelling-house, 
by the great elm east of the school-house, where Mrs. Eddy used to reside. 
The two Boyntons were on the first board of Selectmen in 1764. 

Stephen Boynton was probably a son of one of the above-named, or a broth- 
er of both. His name first appears in 1771. He died previous to 1779, be- 
cause his widow, Tabitha Foster Boynton, was married to Levi Bixby on the. 
2d of May, 1779. Her third husband was Benjamin Eddy. As both Bix- 
by and Eddy, her second and third husbands, resided on the Boynton place, 
by the great elm, it is probable that Mrs. Eddy held the property from her 
first husband, Stephen Boynton, and that he was the heir of Benoni or 
Ephraim. The children of Stephen and Tabitha, his wife : 



HISTORY OF WltfCHENDON. 449 

1. Sally, b. June 13, 1772; 2. Lucy, b. Jan. 7, 1774; 3. Sukey, b. 
Nov. 22, 1776. 

Joseph. Boynton came hither in 1765, and settled on the farm now owned 
by Jedediah Morse. He, like the preceding, came from old Rowley, where 
he was born, July 5, 1738. In 1766, he m. Zeruiah Wilder of Sterling, b. 
Nov. 6, 1746. .He d. in 1820 ; she in 1839. His children were : 

1. Joseph, b. Jan. 18, 1767 ; 2. Daniel, born in W. Sept, 17, 1772, m. 
Dolly, dau. of Paul Boynton, March 1, 1795, d. June 10, 1845. Children : 

Mary, b. July 23, 1796, and others. 

Ephraim Boynton and Abigail his wife had children : 

1. Irena, b. Dec. 9, 1765 ; 2. Jonathan, b. Aug. 1, 1766. 

John Boynton came to W. in 1769, and settled on the farm now owned by 
Capt. E. Murdock, Jr. He removed to Wethersfield, Vt., and the Payson 
family bought the place. Children : 

1. John, b. Aug. 31, 1769; 2. David, b. Dec. 20, 1771 ; 3. Elizabeth, 
b. Feb. 21, 1773; 4. Sarah, b. Feb. 16,1776; 5. Hannah, b. July 10, 1778; 
6. Cyrus, b. June 14, 1780 ; 7. Nancy, b. June 12, 1782. 

Major Paul Boynton settled where Dea. R. Hyde now resides. He was 
b. Oct. 21, 1751, and m. Abigail Fairbanks, b. Dec. 31, 1759. Their daugh- 
ter Dolly m. her cousin, Daniel Boynton. She was b. Jan. 20, 1778 ; d. 
Feb. 16, 1855. 

Mrs. M. D. Poland, wife of Stephen Poland, is the daughter of Daniel and 
Dolly Boynton, and so the granddaughter of both Joseph and Paul Boynton. 
Paul Boynton had also : 

2. Nabby; 3. Benjamin; 4. Sally; 5. Paul; 6. John. 

Levi Boynton and Mary his wife had children : f 

1. ErastusD., b. Oct. 14, 1805; 2. Alfred W., b. Sept. 14, 1807; 3 
Harrison L., b. July 26, 1809. 

BRADISH. 

Robert Bradish. 

Robert Bradish, son of Robert, m. Lucy Jackson. 

Robert Bradish and Nabbe his wife had children : 

1. Thomas; 2. Lucy; 3. Polly; 4. Lydia; all born between 1794 and 
1800. 

Samuel Bradish and Hannah his wife had : 
Samuel b. Oct. 2, 1783. 

Jonas Bradish and Jerusha his wife had children : 
1. Jerusha, b. Oct. 9, 1772; 2. James, b. Dec. 31, 1774 ; 3. Samuel 
M., b. Dec. 12, 1777. 

James Bradish, son of Jonas, m. Polly Moore. 

BRIDGE. 

Francis Bridge and Eunice his wife had : 

1. Patty, b*Feb. 1, 1774; 2. Eunice, b. March 27, 1776; 3. Francis, 

38 1-3 



450 HISTORY dF WINCHENDON. 

b. July 4, 1778 ; 4. Ruhamah, b. March 30, 1781 ; 5. Levi, b. Feb. 15, 
1784; 6. Oliver, b. July 20, 1785. 

BROOKS. 

John Brooks m. Lois Barr. Children : 

1. John A., b. Feb. 19, 1789; 2. Jonas, b. March 31, 1791 ; 3. daughter, 
lived three weeks, b. Oct., 1793; 4. William, b. Nov. 31, 1794; 5. Hep- 
zibah, b. Sept. 14, 1797; 6. William B., b. Sept. 24, 1800. 

Levi Brooks m. Betsey Flint. Children : 

1. John, b. March 6, 1785; 2. Betsey, b. Apr. 17, 1788; 3. Peggy, 
b. Aug. 16, 1790; 4. Nancy, b. June 25, 1793. 

Joel Brooks and Tamesin his wife had : 
Lydia, b. March 7, 1792. 

BROWN. 

Benjamin Brown and Esther his wife had children : 

1. Amasa, b. May 23, 1770; 2. Cyrus, b. May 23, 1772 ; 3. Benjamin, 
b. Nov. 6, 1774 ; 4. Esther, b. Oct. 3, 1776 ; 5. Patty, b. Dec. 23, 1778 ; 
6. Betty, b. Nov. 30, 1780; 7. Olive, b. Nov. 7, 1782; 8. Caty, b. May 
16, 1785; 9. James, b. June 5, 1787; 10. Artemas, (a physician in Med- 
way,) b. Apr. 3, 1789. The four first were born in Templeton ; the rest in 
this town. 

Samuel Brown and Lavina his wife had children : 

1. Asaph, b. Jan. 21, 1778, m. Martha, dau. of Hon. Abel Wilder ; 2. 
Mercy, b. Sept. 31, 1779, m. Wm. Tolman; 3. Abigail, b. June 11, 1782, 
m. Dea. Paul Raymond; 4. Dolly, the mother of Hon. Wm. B. Spooner; 
o! William; 6. John; 7. Samuel; 8. Lucy. 

Amos H. Brown, b. July 16, 1785, m. Betsey Borman, b. July 11, 1786. 
Children : 

1. Hezekiah B., b. May 26, 1810; 2. Charles M. ; 3. Amos H. ; 4. 
Elizabeth; 5. John B. ; 6. Sally M. ; 7. Charles M. ; 8. Polly. 

Hezekiah and Huldah Brown had children : 

1. Amos; 2. Luke; 3. Hervey; 4. Eliza; 5. James S. ; 6. Harriet N. 

Rev. Joseph Brown and Sarah his wife had children : 

1. Elizabeth, b. July 20, 1765; 2. Jane, b. Feb. 27, 1767; 3. Joseph, 
b. Nov. 26. 1768; 4. James, b. Apr. 24, 1771; 5. James, b. Nov. 13, 
1772; 6. Sarah, b. Jan. 5, 1775; 7. Mary, b. May 19, 1778; 8. John, 
b. Feb. 22, 1780 ; 9. Amos, b. July 14, 1782. 

Samuel Brown, 2d, m. Eunice Hagar. Children : 
1. William; 2. Eunice; 3. Mary; 4. Charles D. 

BURNEYHAN OR BORMAN. 

Charles Gr. Martin Burneyman or Borman, and Chloe his wife had children : 
l.MMary Massey, b. Feb. 27, and seven others. 



HISTORY OP WINCHENDON. 451 



BUTTRICK. 

Daniel Buttrick and Eunice his wife had children : 

1. Daniel, b. Jan. 23, 1783 ; 2. Lucy, b. Apr. 7, 1785, died soon; 3. 
Lucy, WAug. 6, 1787 ; 4. Silas, b. Feb. 8, 1790 ; 5. David, b. Apr. 22, 
1792 ; 6. Jonathan, b. Apr. 26, 1794 ; 7. Jonas, b. June 22, 1796 ; 8. 
Mary, b. Feb. 7, 1799. 

Abiel Buttrick and Eunice Heywood his wife had children : 

1. Eunice, b. July 31, 1780; 2. Abiel, June 23, 1782; 3. Amos, b. 
Sept. 12, 1784 ; 4. Samuel, b. Nov. 19, 1786 ; 5. Betsey, b. Feb. 23, 
1789; 6. Amos, b. Oct. 12, 1792; 7. Cyrus, b. Apr. 16, 1795. 

BURR. 

John Burr and Sarah his wife had children : 

1. John, b. March 4, 1784; 2. Samuel, b. Oct. 24, 1787; 3. Piam, b. 
May 14, 1792. 

CARTER. 

Levi and Silence Carter had : 

1. James, b. Nov. 23, 1774; 2. Joannah, b. July 28, 1777. 

CHASE. 

Charles Chase m. Hannah Stewart . Children : 

1. Silas, b. Nov. 27, 1794 ; 2. Lucy, b. May 12, 1798 ; 3^ Hannah, b. 
June 23, 1800; 4. Charles, b. Jan. 11, 1806; 5. Mary, b. March 26, 1809. 

CHOATE. 

Stephen and Bathsheba Choate had children : 

1. Eunice, b. Apr. 13, 1765 ; 2. Lucy, b. May 15, 1766. 

COFFIN. 

■ George Coffin, born in Boston Feb. 13, 1761, a soldier in the Eevolution, 
and deacon of the First Ch. Winchendon, m. Abigail, daughter of Col. Paul 
Ilaymond, died in 1852, aged 91. Children : 

1. Polly, b. March 12, 1790; 2. Silas, b. June 27, 1792; 3. Phebe b. 
Apr. 14, 1795 ; 4. Eunice, b. July 1, 1797 ; 5. George, b. Oct. 1, 1797 ; 
6. Nancy, b. May 12, 1802; 7. Rufus, b. June 19, 1805. 

CONANT. 

Zebulon Conant and Mary had : 

1. Ruth, b. May 2, 1772 ; 2. Ma— y b, Feb. 13, 1774. 

COOK. 

John Cook and Anna his wife had children : 

1. Anna, b. July 21, 1798; 2. Tryphena, b. Sept. 19, 1799; 3. Mary 
F., b. Apr. 23, 1801 ; 4. John, b. March 20, 1803; 5. John, b. March 
15, 1805; 6. Deborah, b. July 30, 1806; 7. Martin, b. March 1, 1808; 
8. Clarissa, b .Jan. 26, 1810; 9. Edward, b. June 12, 1812 ; 10. Ivas, b. 
May 21, 1814^ 11. Abigail, b. May 17, 1816; 12. Eliza, b. March 26, 
1820 ; 13. Joanna, Aug. 15, 1822. 



452 HISTORY OF WINCIIENDON. 

CRAGE OR CRAIG. 

Samuel and Mary Craig had : 

1. Samuel, b. Feb. 7, 1758; 2. May, b. July 29, 1760; 3. Anne, b. 
Apr. 20, 1762 ; 4. Sarah, b. May 4, 1764. 

CROSBY. 

Samuel Crosby, Esq., b. Feb. 13, 1732, m. Azubah Howe of Worcester, 
b. Sept. 14, 1733. Children : 

1. Sarah, b. Sept. 24, 1754; 2. Samuel, b. Sept. 12, 1756; 3. Simeon, 
b. Sept. 13, 1758 ; 4. Dorothy, b. Aug. 26, 1760 j 5. John, b. Oct. 18, 
1762 ; 6. Eusebia, b. Aug. 23, 1763 ; 7. Otis, b. Jan. 15, 1766 ; 8. John, 
b. Oct. 18, 1767 &9. Flavel, b. Jan. 26, 1770; 10. Arethusia, b. March 
22, 1773; 11. Sophia, b. Jan. 9, 1775. 

Flavel Crosby m. Lucy Howe. Children : 

1. EphraimG., b. Jan. 1, 1794; 2. Harriet, b. Oct. 6, 1796, d. Nov. 12, 
1800; 3. Samuel, b. Oct. 6, 1798, d. Nov. 20, 1800. 

CURTICE OR CURTISS. 

Abner Curtice, m. Ruth Hale. Children : 

1. Abner; 2. Moses, and others, it is supposed. 

Abner, Jr., m. Betsey Pike. 

Moses, m. Betsey Benjamin. Children : 

1. Roxana, b. July 8, 1799; 2. Humphrey; 3. Moses; 4. Evelina; 
5. Evelina; 6. Lucy; 7. Charles B. ; 8. Charles; 9. Elizabeth; 10. 
Levi C, b. May 30, 1823. 

CUTLER. 

Dr. William H. Cutler m. Abigail Lowe. Children : 
1. William J., b. Apr. 9, 1815; 2. Abigail H, b. June 8, 1816; 3. 
Abraham L., b. June 3, 1818. 

DARLING. 

John Darling was here as early as 1754. After the French and Indian 
war, some Indians affirmed that they once watched, with intent to kill, John 
Darling, as he was mowing grass in a natural meadow, near Fitzwilliam line. 
Says Dr. Whiton : "he was a portly, athletic man, whose large, prominent 
eyes I well remember ; but the whites of his eyes were so big and glaring, 
they dared not fire at him." Indian superstition saved his life. In 1764, 
John and Timothy Darling were among the first town officers, as tything-man, 
surveyor of highways and deer- reeve. The Darling lot was a lax*ge one, where 
Henry Keith now lives, with a gore extending up to the road south of the 
Ephraim Flint place. There was a Darling house near Mr. Keith's, and al- 
so near the road, south from Mr. Flint's. John Darling and his wife Ruth 
had children : 

1. Joseph, b. July, 26, 1762 ; 2. Priscilla and Calvin, b. June 13, 1765. 

Ruth Darling m. Levi Bixby, Oct. 2., 1766. 

Jewett B. Darling m., in 1790, Deborah Murdock, and had three daugh- 
ters. 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 453 

Timothy Darling and hia wife Joanna had children : 
1. Daniel, b. July 9, 1761 ; 2. Oliver, b. Oct. 13, 1763 ; 3. Anna, b. 
Sept. 19, 1765. 

DAY. 

Dea. Richard Day, m. Ruth Pushey. Children : 

1. John, b. Aug. 31, 1749; 2. Hannah, b. Aug. 31, 1752; these two 
were b. at Groton ; 3. Nathan, b. in Lunenburg, Oct. 2, 1754 ; the follow- 
ing were born in Winchendon : 4. Sarah, b. Apr. 11, 1757 ; 5. Ruth, b. 
Oct. 27, 1759 ; 6. Daniel, b. July 27, 1762 ; 7. Sylvia, b. Oct. 17, 1764 ; 
8. Elizabeth, b. May 12, 1767 ; 9. Lydia, b. Aug. 3, 1770; 10. Susan- 
nah, b. Sept. 9, 1773. 

John Day, Sen., son of Richard, m. Betsey Joselyn. Children : 
1. Elizabeth, b. Feb. 20, 1771 ; 2. John, b. March 14, 1773 ; 3. Jo- 
seph, b. March 27, 1775 ; 4. Lucy, b. June 14, 1777 ; 5. Hannah, b. 
Dec. 29, 1779; 6. Richard, b. March 6, 1782; 7. Peter, b. June 6, 
1785 ; 8. Daniel, b. Feb. 17, 1787 ; 9. Susanna, b. June 8, 1789. 
Daniel Day, son of Richard, m. Ambrey Bruce. Children : 
1. Charlotte C, b. May 12, 1800; 2. Gilman L., b. Apr. 1, 1802; 
3. LucyT.; 4. Betsey R.; 5. Ambrey B. ; 6. Susan M. ; 7. Sarah W., 
8. Mary S. ; 9. Alathine H. 

John Day, son of John, Sen., m. Elizabeth , and had Mason 

S. and several daughters. 

Daniel Day, son of John, Sen., m. Eunice Rico, and had a large family. 

DIVOLL. 

Levi Divoll and Grace Wilder his wife had children : 

1. Sally, b. Nov. 2, 1790 ; 2. Levi, b. Oct. 19, 1792 ; 3. Nancy, b. 
Aug. 31, 1794; 4. Sophronia, b. Aug. 17, 1796; 5. Alden, b. Feb. 13, 
1798; 6, Hervey, b. June 16, 1801 ; 7. Myrendia, b. Dec. 13, 1803; 8. 
Caroline B.,b. March 21, 1806; 9. David W., b. March 4, 1808 ; 10. Jo- 
siah F., b. Oct. 9, 1814. 

EDMANDS. 

Amos Edmands and Lydia his wife had children : 

1. Esther, b. Feb. 28, 1784; 2. Artemas, b. Oct. 6, 1785, m. Esther 
Hyde. (The second wife of Amos was Abigail.) 3. Anne, b. Apr. 20, 1801. 

ELLIS. 

Jesse Ellis and his wife Miriam had children : 

1. Miriam, b. Apr. 7, 1780; 2. Zipporah, b. Nov. 29, 1782; 3. Jesse, 
b. June 19, 1789. 

EMORY. 

Francis Emory and Eunice Philbrick had children : 

1. Grata, b. Oct. 17, 1796; 2. Elizabeth, b. Aug. 23, 1798, both in Graf- 
ton, Vt. ; 3. John, b. Nov. 20, 1799; 4. Eunice, b. Apr. 30, 1803; 5. 
Lucretia, b. Feb. 24, 1805; 7. Louisa, b. Oct. 3, 1807. 



454 HISTOEY OF WINCIIENliOIv 

Stephen Emery and Lydia Kimball bis wife bad children : 

1. Betsey, b. at Wenbam, Aug. 29, 1769 ; 2. Sally, b. at Boxford, Jan. 

26, 1777; 3. Lydia, b. at Winchendon, March SI, 1779; 4. Stephen, b. 

Feb. 18, 1781 ; 5. John, b. March 7, 1783; 6. Nancy, b. Apr. 4, 1785; 

7. Oliver, b. March 4, 1787. Lucy and Olive were born in 1807, 1811. 

EVANS. 

Jonathan Evans and Mehitable Sherwin his wife had : 
1. Mehitable, b. Jan. 17, 1775; 2. Martha, b. Apr. 7, 177G ; 3. Jona- 
than ; 4. George. 

FAIRBANKS. 

Ephraim Fairbanks m. Sukey Weston. Children : 
1. Ephraim W., b. May 12, 1814; 2. Levi Nelson, b. May 12, 1816; 
3. Elisha W., b. Aug. SI, 1818; 4. Stephen W., b. May 5, 1842. 

FARRAR. 

Daniel Farrar m. Ednah Boynton. Children : 

1. Silas, b. Nov. 22, 1777; 2. Lucy, b. Feb. 4, 1779; 3. Molly, b. 
Sept. 11, 1780; 4. Baniel, b. Feb- 15, 1784. 

Daniel, son of Daniel, m. Rebekah . Children : 

1. Dennis, b. Jan. 29, 1806, d. June 29, 1807; 2. Sibbel, b. Sept. 

28, 1807; 3. Salmon S., b. Aug. 17, 1809; 4. Rebekah, b. Aug. 18, 

1813. 

FESSENDEN. 

John Fcssenden d. Feb. 15, 1810. He was a revolutionary soldier, and 
lived between Levi Stearns and the Joseph Adams place, on the east side. 

FLAGG. 

John Flagg was b. at Hinsdale, Jan. 4, 1760, m. Betsey Blanchard. Chil- 
dren : 

1. John, his son, b. Oct. 25, 1790; 2. Lucinda, b. Sept. 13, 1792; 3. 
Alphcus, b. Apr. 11, 1796; 4. Philena, b. June 13, 1804. 

FLINT. 

Thomas Flint b. in Concord, March 6, 1759, son of John, and gr. gr. grand- 
son of Thomas, who with his brother, Rev. Thomas Flint, came to Boston in 
1 635, from Matuck, Derbyshire, Eng. He, that is, Thomas, m. Abigail Brown, 
Apr. 19, 1789, and some time after came to W. He d. in 1840; his wife 
in 1815. Children: 

1. John, b. Dec. 31, 1789; d. Oct. 10, 1847 ; 2. Hepzibah, b. Apr. 8. 
1791, d. Aug. 1851 ; 3. Thomas, b. April 14, 1794, in. Tryphena Cook in 
1819; 4. Eleazar, b. Feb. 29, 1796; 5. David, b. Sept. 6, 1797, m. Pru- 
dence Whitcomb, d. Jan. 2, 1858; 6. Dolly, b. Oct. 3, 1800, m. a Whit- 
man of Westminster; 7. Abigail, b. Apr. 1, 1802, m. Joseph Whitney, 
Oct 20, 1821, d. Dec. 17, 1837; 8. William, b. June 3, 1805, m., May 7, 
1839, Rhoda Pollard. 

Nathan Flint, elder brother of Thomas, b. in 1755, in Concord, and came 
to W. about the same time. Children : 



HISTORY OF WINCUENDON. 455 

1. Mary, b. June 24, 1782, d. May 16, 1834; 2. Abigail, b. Oct. 8, 
1783, died young; 3. Nathan, b. Oct. 17, 1785, died young; 4. Abigail; 
5. Nathan, b. May 11, 1788; 6. Ephraim, b. Nov. 10, 1789; 7. Hannah, 
b. Nov. 9, 1791 ; 8. Martha, b. Aug. 27, 1793 ; 9. Hepzibah, b. May 12, 
1795, m. Wra. Harris ; 10. David B., b. Sept. 23, 1797 ; 11. John, b. Nov. 
8, 1799; 12. Charlotte, b. Jan. 5, 1802, m. Mr. Nutting, and for second 
husband, Joseph Whitney, Jan. 3, 1842 ; 13. Almira, b. Jan. 31, 1806. 

FOSTER. 

David Foster and Elizabeth his wife had children : 

1. Betsey, b. March 1, 1781 ; 2. Susannah, b. Jan. 11, 1783. 

FEY. 

Job Fry, born in Bridgewater, m. Pernal Drake. Children : 

1. James; 2. Mary, m. Hiram Lewis of Athol ; 3. Phebe ; 4. Mason; 

5. Job; 6. Richard; 7. Martin; 8. Silas; 9. Calvin; 10. Susan II,, m. 

Aaron Bowker. 

GILL. 

John Gill. 

Joshua Gill, (son of John,) and Lucy his wife had children : 

1. Lucv, b. May 17, 1807; 2. Hannah, b. Aug. 13, 1808; 3. Joshua, 
b. Aug*. 21, 1810; 4. Warren, b. Aug. 19, 1812; 5. Mary T., b. Aug. 3, 
1814 ; 6. Charles, b. May 25, 1816. 

GOODHUE. 

Francis Goodhue was chosen Treasurer of the Proprietors in 1751. He 
was a descendant of Rev. Francis Goodhue, minister of Jamaica, L. I., who 
died in 1707. John Goodhue drew lot No. 29, north division, and Joseph 
Goodhue, No. 20, south division, in 1737. Both had a share in the next 
drawing. Probably Francis was son to one of them, and if so, most proba- 
bly Joseph, as he had a grandson named Joseph. 

His son Francis lived west of the Nichols tavern, (where it is supposed 

the first Francis resided.) He m. Polly, daughter of Rev. Joseph Brown, 

in 1794. Afterwards he settled in Brattleboro, Vt., and as a trader became 

rich. He had sons, Joseph and Wells. The daughter of Joseph was the 

wife of Hon. Frederic Holbrook, ex-Gov. of Vermont. 

Amos Goodhue, m. Sally Payson, and lived in a house where the North 
Cong'l Ch. now stands. Children : 

Hitty Payson, and David Payson. 

John Goodhue, m. Mary McFarland, and lived on the Capt. Stillmanllale 
place. 

GOODEIDGE. 

Daniel Goodridge, came to W. in 1762. His house was where the Poor- 
House now stands. He m. Hannah Low of Lunenburg in 1766. He d. Apr. 
12, 1821, aged 81 ; she d. Feb. 7, 1820, aged 75. Children : 

1. Benjamin^b. Aug. 5, 1767, d. Feb. 29, 1824 ; 2. Daniel, b. Aug. 24, 
1769, moved to New York, and died ; 3. Elijah, b. Nov. 16, 1771 ; d. Ju« 



456 HISTORY OF WINCHENDOff. 

ly 15, 1773 ; 4. Sarab, b. March 13, 1774, m. Isaac Wilkrd, Feb. 5, 1798 ; 

5. Polly, b. Oct. 20, 1776, d. Aug. 15, 1778; 6. Mary, b. March 20, 1779, 
m. Amasa Whitney; 7. Hannah, b. Apr. 17, 1781, m., Mar. 6, 1808, James 
McAfee; 8. Jonathan, b. March 2, 1785, moved to New York ; 9. Lowell, 
b. Feb. 2, 1790, m. Rachel Knight, and then Lydia Wilder White. 

David Goodridge came in 1762, and settled where Jonas Nutting now 
lives. Mr. Nutting's father married his daughter. He, like the preceding, 
was a member of the First Church. They were not brothers; their relation- 
ship, if any, is not known. He died in 1813, aged 66. 

Philip Goodridge was here as early as 1761, and Benjamin as early as 
1762. The latter was on a committee to "stake out a meeting-house lot" 
in 1762. 

David Goodridge and Silence his wife had children : 
1. David, b. Apr. 24, 1774 , 2. Jonas, b. Dec. 8, 1775 ; 3. Silence, b. 
Dec. 9, 1777; 4. Betty, b. Nov. 15, 1779 ; 5. Dolly, b. Nov. 12, 1781 ; 

6. Anna, b. Jan. 31, 1784; 7. David, b. Apr. 11, 1787; 8. A son ; 9. 
Calvin, b. May 18, 1782. 

David Goodridge, Jr., and Susanna had children : 

1. Maryanna ; 2. Susan H. ; 3. Calvin G. ; 4. David J.; 5. Betsey 
Boynton. 

GOULD. 

Daniel Gould and Mary his wife had chidren : 

1 Daniel Green, b. July 22, 1770 ; 2. Mary, b. July 8, 1772 ; 3. Da- 
vid, b. June 4, 1775. 

GItEATON. 

Thomas Graton or Greaton was the son of an English soldier, who took 
French leave of the British army while passing through Worcester Co. under 
Lord Amherst, it is supposed. Graton was not his original name. Thomas 
m. Rebecca or Becca Chaplin, and had children : 

1. Smyrna, b. June 29, 1791 ; 2. Sally P., b. March 16, 1793 ; 3. Mar- 
sena, b. Jan. 19, 1795; 4. Tamar, b. June 20, 1798; 5. Leona, b. May 

8, 1800; 6. LaFayette, b. Feb. 13, 1804; 7. Alvin, b. August 2, 1806, 
died; 8. Alvin, b. May 24, 1808. 

GREENWOOD. 

Thomas Greenwood and Deborah Barber his wife had children : 
1. Henry, b. May 1, 1791 ; 2, Sophia, b. July 16, 1793; 3. Levi, b. 
July 29, 1797. 

GROUT. 

Isaac Grout m. Sally Stearns. Children : 

1. John, b. March 31, 1786; 2. Phebe; 3. Cyrus; 4. Lewis; 5. Isaac; 
6. Betsey; 7. Lorcy. His second wife was Rebekah . 8. Sally; 

9. Rebekah; 10. Samuel B. ; 11. Hannah, b. Apr. 15, 1820. 



HISTORY OF WINCIIENDON. 457 

GUY. 
Alpheus Guy and Betsey his wife had children : 
1. Sarah; 2. Elizabeth B. ; 3. Hannah; 4. Elvira D. 

HALE. 

Moses Hale was born in Boxford, June 5, 1742, m. Ruth Foster, July 2, 
1769 ; came to W. May 3, 1770. He die* May 31, 1828, aged 86 ; wife 
died Jan. 11, 1837. Their children were : 

1. Eunice, m. Abel Wilder, Jr. ; 2. Buth, m. Eliot Payson ; both removed 
to Madison Co., N. Y. ; 3. Lucy, alive in 1866, aged 89 years; 4. Moses, 
m. Mary Flint in 1807 ; he was a bright man ; lived in New York for a while ; 
lost all his family but one son, in Columbus, Miss.; went to live with him, 
and died there in 1843 ; 5. Achsa, m. Joseph Cooledge of Gardner ; 6. Ar- 
temas, m. Deborah Lincoln, of Hingham, in 1815, and has since resided in 
Bridgewater. 

Besides his brothers, mentioned below, Dea. Hale had two sisters ; 1. Buth, 
m. Abner Curtice, and 2. Judith, m. Absalom Towne. They came from 
Boxford not far from the time of Dea. Hale's coming. About the year 1795, 
when many left the place for the then "west," Mr. Towne settled in Madison, 
Co., N. Y. Mrs. Towne d. March 18, 1854, aged 106^ years. 

Abner Hale, brother of Moses, b. July 22, 1737, came to W. in 1766. 
He removed to Madison Co., N. Y., with Mr. Towne. 

Jacob Hale, brother of Moses, b. Dec. 19, 1744, m. Buth Towne, b. Oct. 
2, 1746, came to W. in 1770. Their children were : 

1. Asa, b. Feb. 2, 1768; 2. Buth, b. Apr. 2. 1770; 3. Anna, b. June 
22, 1772 ; 4. Jacob, b. June 25, 1774 ; 5. Thomas, b. Feb. 14, 1776 ; 6. 
Abel, b. Nov. 30, 1777 ; 7. Polly, b. Dec. 11, 1779 ; 8. Nathaniel, b. Feb. 
7, 1782; 9. Daniel, b. Sept. 4, 1785 ; 10. Joseph, b. Feb. 21, 1787; 11. 
Miriam, b. Nov. 26, 1788. 

Asa Hale, son of Jacob, m. Sally Hancock ; he d. Dec. 30, 1852, aged 

84 ; she d. Apr. 25, 1852. Their children were : 

1. Stillman, b. May 1, 1797; 2. Lyman; 3. Persis; 4. Sally; 5, 

Olive ; 6. Elmira. 

Jacob Hale, son of Jacob, m. Betsey Brown, d. in 1843. They were 
m. May 29, 1806. Children : 

1. Syrena; 2. Sally; 3. Amos, m. Mary, dau. of Jesse Raymond ; 4. 
Betsey; 5. Priscilla; 6. Joseph, m. Adaline Chase; 7. Lucy, m. Levi 
W. Foskett; 8. Sally, m. Stephen Sampson; 9. Mary, m. Daniel Chase ; 
10. Syrena, m. Wm- Sawtell ; 11. Elizabeth; 12. Freeman S., m. Ma- 
ria Sibley, and Mrs. Eliza K. Hale. 

Nathaniel, son of Jacob, m. Margaret Hale, b. May 29, 1784. Children : 

1. NathanielW., b. March 21, 1807, m. Sarah Guy; 2. Merritt, b. 
Oct, 1, 1809; m. Harriet Johnson; 3. Albert, b. Oct. 11, 1811, m. 
Harriet Brown ; 4. Julia A. b. June 17, 1813, m. Wm. Wilder; 5. Sal- 
ly M., b. July 12, 1818, m. John Fitts; 6. Nancy, b. March 27, 1820. 
Nathaniel d. Oct. 11, 1857, aged 85. 

29 



458 HISTORY OF WINCIIENDON. 

Daniel, son of Jacob, left a daughter, now Mrs. Frank Priest. 

Amos Hale, brother of Moses, b. May 25, 1752, m. Sally Day ; came to 
W. in 1770. Children : 

1. Sarah, b. Jan. 8, 1780; 2. Mary, b. Feb. 19, 1782 ; 3. Amos, b. 
May 9, 1784 • 4. Nathan, b. June 23, 1786 ; 5. Obed, b. Oct. 23, 1788; 
6. Edward, b. Oct. 29, 1790 ; 7. Salmon, b. March 10, 1793 ; 8. Laura, 
b. June 3, 1795 ; 9. Justus, b. Apr. 27, 1797. 

HALL. 

Benjamin Hall m. Sally, dau. of Kev. Joseph Brown. Children : 
1. Henry, b. Oct. 25, 1796; 2. Betsey, b. Jan. 23, 1799. 

HANCOCK. 

Timothy Hancock and Lucy Stoddard his wife had children : 

1. Lot, b. Feb. 12, 1792; 2. Persis, b. July 8, 1794; 3. Bill, b. Feb. 
1, 1796; 4. Zenas, b. Jan. 20, 1798; 5. Orras, b. Apr. 19, 1800; 6. 
Benjamin H. b. Apr. 10, 1802 ; 7. Lucy A., b. Aug. 21, 1804 ; 8. James 
A., b. Aug. 7. 1806; 9. Cirisman, b. July 12, 1808; 10. Lucy A., b. 
Apr. 2, 1811. 

Rufus Hancock, son of Hczckiah, of Wrentham, b. in Winchendon, Aug. 
21, 1780, m. Sally Bacon. Children : 

1. Benjamin F., b. Nov. 25, 1803 ; 2. William M., b. March 16, 1806 f 

3. ArtemasH., b. Aug. 13, 1809; 4. Ozro, b. Jan. 10, 1812. 
Bill Hancock, son of Samuel, of Wrentham, died suddenly in 1792. 

IIAPQ00D. 

John and Betsey Hapgood, had children : 

1. George, d. young; 2. Charles, b. Feb. 27, 1806; 3. Willard; 4. 
Sally ; 5. Sally; 6. Dana; 7.. Abigail; 8. Mary; 9. Bhoanna; 10. Jane, 
b. June 4, 1821, m. Bethuel Ellis, Esq. ; 11. Otis W. 

IIENSIIAW. 

Daniel Hcnshaw and Deborah B. his wife had children : 

1. Frances E., b. July 25, 1824 ; 2. Daniel H., b. Sept. 25, 1827. 

IIEYWOOD. 

Dea. Amos Heywood, m. the widow of Richard Parsons, born, Keziah Bix- 
by, sister of Levi Bixby. Children : 

1. Susan, b. March 27, 178G ; m. Thomas Knowlton ; 2. Sally, b. July 

4, 1789, m. Mr. Carter. 

His second wife was widow .Elizabeth Cogswell, mother of Mrs. Richard 
Whitney. 

Daniel Heywood, brother of Amos, m. Hannah Fairbanks. Children : 
1. Betsey, b. Nov. 24, 1783; 2. Hannah, b. Apr. 24, 1785; 3. Bet- 
sey, b. Aug. 17, 1787 ; 4. Daniel, b. Oct. 7, 1790 ; 5. Alpha, b. Sept. 15, 
1792 ; 6. Miriam, b. June 2, 1794 ; 7. Alpheus, b. Apr. 11, 1797 ; 8. 
Ira, b. Apr. 6, 1799, d. May 25, 1799 ; 9. Eliel, b. Feb. 9, 1801 ; 10. Soly- 
man, b. Jan. 5. 1805. 



HISTORY OF WINCIIENDON. 459 

Lieut. Levi Hoywood, br. of Amos and Daniel, lived at the Ephraim Flint 
place. He in. Beulali Buttrick. He d. June 21, 1799. Children : 

1. Amos; 2. Levi; 3. Beulak; 4. Mary; 5. Cyrus. 
Capt. Lemuel Heywood, cousin of the above, also lived on the E. Flint 
place, m. Lucy Heywood, a cousin, and had children : 

1. Rufus, b. Oct. 12, 1782 ; 2. Reuben, b. Dec. 27, 1783 ; 3. Luke, b. 
Dec. 9, 1785; 4. George, b. Nov. 30, 1787; 5. Rial,b. Feb. 25, 1790; 
6, Lucy, b. March 23, 1792, m. Simeon Stearns; 7. 'Samuel, b. July 4, 
1794; 8. HepzibahS., b. Oct. 1, 1796, m. Phinehas Parks, Jr. ; 9. Eliza, 
b. May 8, 1799. 

His second wife was Abigail or Nabby Parsons, dau. of Richard Parsons. 
Children : 

10. Richard P., b. Dec. 1, 1801, d. Sept. 26, 1825; 11. NabbcB., b. 
Feb. 28, 1803 ; 12. Bushrod V., b. July 29, 1804, d. Sept. 28, 1805 ; 13. 
Sally R., b. Jan. 19, 1806 ; 14. Caroline C, b. Nov. 6, 1807, m. Levi Parks ; 
15. Horatio N., b. Apr. 2,1809; 16. Adaline B., b, May 5,1812; 17. 
Lemuel A., b. Apr. 3, 1814. 

HOLMAN. 

Capt. Nathaniel Holman, b. at Bolton, July 5, 1767, m. Charlotte Bruce, 
b. at Berlin, Jan. 31, 1783. Children : 

1. Charlotte B., b. Apr. 22, 1806; 2. Betsey T., b. Dec. 19, 1807 ; 3. 
Nathaniel, b. Sept. 10, 1809. 

HOUGHTON. 

Robert Houghton and Sarah his wife had children : 

1. John, b. Feb. 2, 1791; 2. Asaph, b. Oct. 8. 1792; 3. Ephraim, b. 

Feb. 18, 1795 ; 4. Sally, b. March 22, 1797 ; 5. William, b. Oct. 26, 1798 ; 

6. Cyrus, b. Apr. 19, 1799; 7. Lucy, b. March 17, 1801; 8. Cyrus, b. 

March 17, 1803; 9. Abigail J., b. Dec. 12, 1805; 10. Susan F., b. Oct. 

•4.1811. 

iiowe. 

Ebenezer Howe and Elisabeth his wife had : 

1. Tamesin, b. Aug. 31, 1770; 2. Parley, b. Nov. 7, 1773; 3. Ezekiel, 
b. March 20, 1775 ; 4. Sarah, b. Dec. 11, 1777. 

HYDE. 

Ezra Hyde, son of Job and Prudence Hyde, of Newton, b. Nov. 1749; 
m.Elizabeth Whiting, Dec. 1773, moved to W, 1774 ; he d. 1837, aged 88 ; 
she was b. in Sherborn, in Aug., 1851, d. in 1840, aged 88. Children : 

1. Ezra Jr., the historian, b. Sept. 1774, d. Oct., 1849, aged 75; 2. Asa, 
b. 1776, d. July, 1858, aged 82 ; 3. John, b. Feb. 1779, d. March, 1826, 
aged 47; 4. Elizabeth, b. 1781, d. 1817, aged 36; 5. Prudence, b. 1783, 
d. 1787; 6. Sally, b. 1785, d. 1786 ; 7. Prudence, b. 1788, m. Levi Priest; 
8. Sally, b. 1791, d. 1825, aged 34; 9. Job, b. »?4, d. 1821. 
Ezra, Jr. % in. Betsey Perlcy, Sept. 1806. Children : 

1. Ezra, b. Aug., 1807 ; 2. daughter, b. 1811, (Moon. He married Polly, 



460 HISTORY OF WINCIIENDON. 

dau. of James Raymond, in Juno, 1813, and bad children : 3. Maria H., 

b. Apr., 1814, m. Howe, of Gardner, in 1854; 4. James R , b. 

Feb. 1816; -5. Daniel H., b. Oct. 1818; 6, Alfred, b. Sept. 1820; 7. 

Warren, b. Nov. 1822; 8. John M., b. May, 1825; 9. Susan E., b. 

May, 1831. 

Asa Hyde, son of the first Ezra, m. Betsey Hyde. Children : 

1. Levi, b. Oct. 5, 1808, d. Jan. 15, 1811 ; 2. Levi, b. Jan. 15, 1811 ; 

3. Phebe, b. Sept. 6, 1816; 4. Ward, b. Nov. 1, 1818. 

John Hyde, son of Ezra, m. Abigail, dau. of Job and Elizabeth Hyde, 

in Nov. 1803. Their children were : 

1. John, b. Sept., 1804 ; 2. Elisha, b. Oct. 1805 ; 3. Abigail, b. 1806 

d, March, 1818; 4. Nancy, b. March, 1809, m. Wetherbee, May; 

1831, d. Sept. 1849; 5. Eliza, b. 1812; d. July, 1820; 6. Mary, b. 

1818, d. 1825. 

Job Hyde, brother of the first Ezra, and son of Job and Prudence Hyde, 
of Newton, b. March, 1752, m. Elizabeth Ward, Dec. 1779, moved to W. in 
1796 ; he d. in 1824, aged 72 ; she d. in 1804, aged 45. Children, born 
in Newton : 

1. Abigail, b. Nov. 1782 ; m. in 1803 ; d. May, 1859, aged 76; 2. Eliz- 
abeth, b. Sept., 1784, m. Oct. 1806; d. Jan., 1825, aged 41 ; 3. Job, b. 
Nov., 1786; m. Elizabeth Tolman, Nov., 1817; 4. George W., b. July, 
1790, d. Oct. 1810 ; 5. Reuben, b. Oct. 1793, m. Sarah Wood, Dec. 1830; 
C. Lucretia, b. Feb. 1798, m. Artemas Edmands, Dec, 1830, d. Feb. 1855 ; 
7. Joel, b. March, 1800, d. Oct., 1810. 

Job, son of Job and Elizabeth, had children : - 
1. Sarah T., b. Aug., 1818; 2. Joel, b. Oct., 1819; m. Eliza De- 
witt,.Oct. 1849, and Katharine W. Dole, Dec, 1801, d. 1866. 

JONES. 

Capt. Abel Jones, Sen., m. Lucinda Hey wood. Children : 

Abel Jones, m. Hannah Knight. Children : 

1. Harriet B., b. Sept. 23, 1807 ; 2. William R., both born in Fitz- 
william ; 3. Lucinda; 4. Elizabeth K. ; 5. MaryS.; 6. Sarah K. ; 7. 
Evelina. 

JOSLIN OR JOSELYN. 

Peter Joslin and Sally his wife had children : 

1. Sally, b. Mar. 24, 1787; 2. Betsey, b. Jan. 1, 1789; 3. Peter, b. 
Nov. 24, 1790; 4. John, b. Sept. 24, 1792; 5. Polly, b. Aug. 10, 1794; 
6. Persis, b. Sept. 23, 1798. 

KEITH. 

Apollos Keith came hither from Easton in 1799. He m. Mary Drake. 
Children: 

1. Jason, b. in 1797; 2. Joshua, b in 1803. 

Joshua Keith, brother of Apollos, came about 1810. He m. Grace Un- 
derwood. Children : 

1. Josephiuo; 2. died young ; 3. Henry. 



HISTORY OP WINCIIENDON. 161 

KENDALL. 

Caleb Kendall and Lucy his wife had Samuel, b. Oct. 11, 1792. 

KIDDER. 

John Kidder and Dorothy his wife had children : 
1. Samuel, b. May 5, 1785; 2. Sukey, b. Jan. 17, 1788. 
Hey wood Kidder m. Zilpah Phelps, and had children : 
1. Levi, b. Jan. 19, 1798; 2. Almira, b. Oct. 12, 1800; 3. Elizabeth, 
b. Feb. 2, 1803 ; 4. Mary, b. Nov. 8, 1804. 

KNIGHT. 

Matthew Knight lived here, but no trace of his family has been found in 
the Records. 

Nathan Knight and Susannah his wife had children : 

1. Aarori, b. Apr. 17, 1775; 2. Nathan, b. Jan. 12, 1778; 3. Luke, 
b. Sept. 4, 1782 ; 4. Levi, b. Apr. 24, 1786. 

Aaron Knight m, Susan Putnam. 

Aaron Knight m. Betsey Wilder. Children : 

1. Levi, b. Sept. 16, 1808 ; 2. Philenus; 3. Luke L. ; 4. ElamC.; 5 
Eliza Ann; 6. Abel Wilder, b. Dec. 30, 1831. 

Luke Knight and Rachel his wife had children : 

1. Horatio L. ; 2. Harriet; 3. Nathan; 4. Almira. 

KNOWLTON. 

Thomas Knowlton m. Susan or Sukey, dau. of Dea. Heywood. Children : 

1. Mary H, b. Aug. 31, 1807; 2. Elizabeths., b July 8, 1809; 3. 

Lucy C, b. April 20, 1811; 4. Thomas S., b. May 20, 1813; 5. Amos, 

b. May 27, 1815; 6. Susannah A., b. June 22, 1821 ; 7. Charles G., b. 

Dec. 20, 1824, d. 1828 ; 8. Charles Henry, b. June 4, 1830. 

LORD. 

Bemsley Lord m. Sarah Stimpson. Children: 

1. Eunice, b. March 3, 1786, d. in 1868; 2. Sally, b. July 17, 1789; 
3. Bemsley, b. July 16, 1789; 4. Luke, b. Nov. 18, 1792. 

LITCH. 

Thomas Litch, b. in Ireland, came to this country when four years old, m. 
Jane Kennedy. Children : 

1. Samuel; 2. Betsey; 3, Samuel. 

Samuel Litch, son of Thomas, and Betsey his wife, had children : 
1. Samuel, b. in Lunenburg, July 9, 1779 ; 2. Betsey, b. in Lunen- 
burg, March 10, 1781 ; 3. Thomas, b. July 1, 1785. The first Samuel 
was the Shays man. 

The body of Thomas, Sen., was kept three weeks after death because the 
depth of snow stopped all travel. This was in Feb. 1802. 

LOVE JOY. 

Oliver Lovcjoy m. Nancy Ingalls. Children : 



462 HISTORY OF WINCIIENDON. 

1. Mary Ann; 2. Sarah; 3. Gratia; 4. Nancy; 5. Julia Anu; 6. Ol- 
iver S., a physician in Haverhill. 

MANSFIELD. 

James Mansfield and Lois his wife had : 

1. Lydia, b. June 11, 17GG ; 2. James, b. Nov. 20, 1767 ; 3. Amasa, 
b. August, 17G9; 4. Lois, b. July 10, 1771 ; 5. Josiah. 

MAY. 

Theodore May and Elizabeth his wife had children : 

1. Theodore, b. May 4, 1775; 2. Betsey, b. Dec. 28, 1785. 

Benjamin May and Lucy his wife had children : 

1. Benjamin, b. Jan. 8, 1784; 2. John, b. Aug. 30, 1785; 3. Daniel, 
b. Nov. 12, 1787; 4. Fanny, b. Feb. 27, 1790; 5. Thomas, b. July 4, 
1792; G. Kichardson, b. 0«t. 27, 1794; 7. Augustus, b. Oct.*!, 1798. 

m'elwain. 
James McElwain and Rebckah Whitcomb had children : 
1. Sally, b. Apr. 28. 1770, m. Luther Stimpson ; Kebekah, b. March 19, 

1772, m. Samuel Prentiss; 3. James, b. Nov. 27, 1777; 4. David, b. 

Jan. 20, 1780; 5. William, b. May 15, 1782; G. John, b. Sept. 5. 1785. 
He d. Nov. 24, 1820, an aged man. His wife d. Nov. 3, 1811, aged G7. 

MEKRIAM. 

Capt. Amos Merriam and Elizabeth his wife had children : 
1. Amos, b. June 2, 1768 ; 2. Jonathan, b. Oct. 4, 1770 ; 3. Elizabeth, 
b. Nov. 2, 1772; 4. Elizabeth, b. Nov. 11, 1776; 5. Luther, b. June 4, 
1779. His wife Susey had : 6. Sukcy, b. Feb. 13, 1790. 

MOFFAT. 

William Moffat and Mary his wife had children : 

1. William, b. Sept. 7, 1767; 2. David, b. Feb. 27, 1771 ; 3. James, 
b. May 7, 1773; 4. Joseph, b. March 27, 1775. 

MOOR. 

Dca. Levi Moor and Parna his wife had children : 

1. Tabitha, b. Aug. 3, 1781; 2. Levi, b July 14, 1787, died soon; 3. 
Levi, b. Feb. 8, 1790. 

MORSE. 

Isaac Morse and Miriam Spofford had children : 

1. Eliza M. b. Jan. 9, 1802; 2 ^Sophia A., b. Jan. 1, 1805; 3. Milton 
S., b. Nov. 12, 1806 ; 4. Rhoanna, b. Sept. 4, 1808 ; 5 and 6. Edward and 
Edmund, twins, b. Aug. 5, 1810; 7. Miriam C, b. Oct. 1, 1812; 8. A 
dau. b. Sept. 14, 1814; 9. Susan L., b. Sept. 2, 1816;. 10. Mary B. b. 
Jan. 10, 1819. Mrs. M. d. Aug. 21, 1819. By his wife Frances he had : 
11. Charles II., b. Jan. 31, 1822; 12. Frances A., b. Aug. 23, 1824; 
13. A dau. b. Jan. 11, 1827 ; 14. Laura S.. b. Jan. 2G, 1828 ; 15. Laura 
A., b. May 2, 1829. 




MlLcm^ EWB5B)®©3£ 



HISTORY OF WINCIIENDON. 163 



MURDOCK. 
James Murdock, grandson of Robert of Roxbury, was born in Newton, 
March 15. 1738. He m., Oct. 9, 1765, Deborah Williams, (gr. gr. grand- 
daughter of Robert Williams of Roxbury, "the common ancestor of very many 
distinguished men who have honored their country,") and moved to W. in 
1766. He d. Oct. 26, 1813 ; wife d. Aug. 15, 1809. Children : 

1. James, b. Aug. 24, 1766; 2. Deborah, b. Oct. 4, 1768 ; 3. Patty, 
b. Juno 11, 1770; 4. Ephraim, b. Jan. 2G, 1772; 5. Hannah; 6. Dor- 
cas; 7. Abel. 

James, son of James, m. Polly Chaplin, Dee. 2, 1792. Children : 

1. Chloc Thirsting, b. Sept. 7, 1793; m. James Wilson, Feb. 25, 
1819; 2. Sheboinith Reed, b. June 10, 1795, d. March, 1801 ; 3. Ed- 
ward Newton, b. Apr. 22, 1797 ; m. Philinda Walker ; 4. Tabitha Moore, 
k Feb., 1800, m. Atron L. Phelps; 5. James, k Juno 29, 1802; m. 
Silence Nutting; 6. Daphne Pratt, b. March 25, 1806, m. Paul Pierce; 
d. Sept. 22, 1852 ; 7. Mary Hovey, b. May 21, 1809, d. Aug. If, 1811 , 
8. John Hovey, b. Dec. 16, 1811, d. March 14, 1812; 9. Mary Parker, 
b. March 15, 1816, m. Asa P. Rand, Oct. 23, 1838. 
James Murdock died Sept. 25, 1859; his wife, April 9, 1849. 

Deborah, m., in 1790, Jcwett Boynton Darling. Children : 

1. Ruth, b. Apr. 2, 1791, m. James King, July 25, 1808 ; 2. Nancy, 
b. Feb. 1, 1794; m. B. Darling, Feb. 19, 1822. 

Patty, married a Mr. Deeth. 

Ephraim, m. Zibiah Bixby, Feb. 4, 1798. He d. Feb. 21, 1853 ; first 
wife d. July 20, 1824 ; second wife now lives in Wabasha, Minn. Chil- 
dren : 

1. Lucy, b. Dec. 16, 1798, m. Mark Whitcomb, March 13, 1821 ; 2. 
Ephraim, b. Aug. 17, 1800, m. Sophia Morse, Nov. 24, 1825 ; 3. Eli- 
sha, b. Aug. 27, 1802, m. Rhoanna Morse, Nov. 29, 1832; 4. William, 
b. Oct. 9, 1804, ra. Mary G. Whitney, July 8, 1841 ; 5. George, b. Nov. 

2, 1806, d. Dec. 24, 1838 ; 6. Charles, b. Apr. 24, 1809, m. Fidelia 
Prouty, May 21, 1837, moved to Baltimore, and died there, Oct. 12, 1863 ; 
7. Mary, b. Oct. 3, 1811, m. Amasa Whitney, July 24, 1834. The above 
are the children of the first wife. He married widow Abigail W. Wood- 
bury, dau. of Capt, Jacob Wales, March 30, 1826, and had children ; 8. 
Emily, b. March 19, 1827, m. Albert O. Tyler, Nov. 2, 1845, and resides 
in Cincinnati; 9. Joseph, b. Feb. 23, 1829, m. Louisa King, Nov, 15, 
1853, and Mary Baldwin, Dec. 24, 1857, d. in 1858, July 12, much la- 
mented; 10. Nelson, b. Sept. 23, 1831, m. Cynthia Baldwin, Sept. 18, 
1855, and is a lawyer in Wabasha, Minn. 

Hannah, m. Jewctt Boynton Darling, Dec. 12, 1809. Children : 
1. Sally C, m., in 1835, to Ebcnezer H. Converse ; 2. Hannah, m. in 
1833, to John D. Stearns ; 3. Mary. 

NOURSE. 

Dea. Nourse, »f the New Boston Baptist Church, had a family, but the rcc-* 
ord has eluded search. 



404 HISTOBY OF WINCHENDON. 

NOYES. 

Isaac Noyes and his wife Sally had these children : 

1. Levi, b. Apr. 8, 1792; 2. b. Aug. 21, 1793; 3. Isaac, b. Feb 24, 
1796 ; 4. Henry, b. Oct. 9, 1797 ; 5. Jane, b. Sept, 17, 1799. 

Samuel Noyes had children : 

1. Susanna, b. Feb. 27, 1771; 2. Sarah, b. Sept. 7, 1774; 3. Samuel, 
b. June 26, 1778; 4. Nancy, b. Sept. 7, 1783. Elizabeth was mother of 
the first child ; Hannah, his wife, of the remainder. 

James Noyes and Elizabeth his wife had children : 

1. James, b. Nov. 17, 1771 ; 2. Ward, b. April 21, 1774. 

NUTTING. 

Benjamin and Silence Nutting had children : 

1. Silence J., b. Sept. 29, 1797 ; 2. Lucy W.*b. March 8, 1800; 3. 
Betsey G., b, Sept. 19, 1802 ; 4. David G., b. March 29, 1805; 5. Jonas 
G., b. Apr. 25, 1807; 6. Anna II., b. Oct. 4, 1809; 7. AnnaT., b. May 
25, 1813; 8. Susanna T., b. July 5, 1819. 

OAK. 

Seth Oak and Elizabeth his wife had children : 
. 1. Salloma, b. May 25, 1704; 2. John, b. July 31, 1766; 3. Thomas, 
b. July G, 1768; 4. Ebenezer, b. Jan. 12, 1771. 

William Oak and Releaf his wife had children : 

1. Joel, b. Sept. 1,1767; 2. Abraham, b. Aug. 15, 1770; 3. Ephraim, 
b. March 9, 1773. 

PARKS. 

Eleazar, Samuel and William Parks were brothers. Eleazar m. Elizabeth 
Whitney, but had no children. The tradition is that he was an excellent man. 
Samuel moved hence, and was the father of Elisha and Luther Parks of Bos- 
ton, and of Mrs. Whitman, the mother of the late Calvin R. Whitman and of 
the late Mrs. Webster Whitney. 

William lived on the old place near Frank Priest's. Children : 
1. Elizabeth, b. May 8, 1758, d. Sept. 10, 1843; 2. Mehitable, b. Aug. 
17, 1760, d. March 1, 1853, aged 92; 3. Jacob, b. Jan. 31,1763; d. 
Oct. 22, 1850; 4. Lydia, b. June 11, 1765, d. Feb. 2, 1854; 5. William, 
b. Feb. 28, 1768; 6. Phinehas, b. July 28, 1770, d. Oct. 28, 1857 ; 7. 
Elisha, b. June 6, 1773, d. Jan. 27, 1858 ; 8. Eliphalet, b. Feb. 15, 1777, 
d. Oct. 23, 1855; 9. Patty, b. Nov. 11, 1780, d. May 10, 1866; 10. Pol- 
ly, b. Nov. 11, 1780, d. April 23, 1866. The last two were twins, and died 
within seventeen days of the same time. Not one of the ten lived less than 
78 years. The sum of the ages of nine is 782 years, and the average age 
about 87 years. 

Jacob, m. Hannah Chaplin. Children : 

I Polycrates, b. Jan. 10, 1796; 2. Thomas Graton, b. Jan. 6, 1798; 
3 S.ophronia, b. Sept, 5, 1709. 



HISTORY OF WINCIIENDON. 465 

Phinebas, m. Betsey Stewart. Their children were : 
1. Luke, b. in 1793; 2. Phinchas, b. in 1795; 3. Elizabeth, b. in 
1798 ; 4. Levi, b. in 1803 ; 5. Lucy, b. in 1806. 

Eliphalet m. Abigail, dau. of Paul Boynton. Children : 
Eliphalet, b. July 24, 1802, m. Rebekah Prentiss. 

PAKMENTER. 

John Parmenter and Lydia his wife had : 

1. Elizabeth, b. June 22, 1767 ; 2. Lydia, b. Sept. 21, 1769 ; 3. Mary, 
b. Nov. 15, 1771. 

PARSONS. 

Bartholomew Parsons, or Person, or Pearson, father of Richard, died March 
20, 1766. 

Richard Parsons m, Keziah . Children : 

1. Relief, b. Apr. 6, 1769; 2. Nabbe, b. Apr. 22, 1771 ; 3. Oliver, 
b. May 15, 1773 ; 4. Hitty, b. June 5, 1775 ; 5. Sarah, b. May 14, 1777. 
Oliver Parsons m. Lois Priest. Children : 

1. Louisa D., b. Apr. 7, 1802 ; 2. Mary B., b. June 30, 1803 ; 3. 
Oliver S., b. April 11, 1805 ; 4. Mary B., b. Nov. 22, 1806. 

PAYSON. 

James Pay son m. widow Bobbins. He d. Aug. 21, 1811, aged 81. 

Eliot Payson m. Ruth Hale, and had children : 

1. Lucy H, b. Oct. 4, 1799; 2. Mary C, b. Sept. 13, 1801 ; 3. James 
P.,b. Sept. 7, 1802; 4. Mary C, b. Oct. 16, 1804; 5. Edward L., b. 
Oct. 3, 1806; 6. Eliot, b. Aug. 12, 1808 ; 7. Clarissa, b. Aug. 17, 1810; 
8. Eliza Ann, b. Oct. 24, 1814; 9. Evelina L., b. Apr. 6, 1818, at Leb- 
anon, Madison Co., N. Y., whither the family had moved. Eliot became a 
minister in the Presbyterian Church. 

PERLEY. 

Lieut. Dudley Perley, or Parley, came from Boxford. He m. Hannah 
Hale of B., Dec. 3, 1767. He d. Dec. 16, 1810, aged 72. She d. Au*. 
1806, aged 63. Children : 

1. John, b. Oct. 2, 1768, m. Mary Spaulding ; 2. Dudley, b. Aug. 26, 
1770 ; 3. Asa, b: July 9, 1772, m. Mary Hunt, of Westminster, Jan., 1803; 
d. March 10, 1847 ; 4. Betsey, b. Feb. 22, 1776, m. Ezra Hyde, the his- 
torian. She d. June 2, 1812; 5. Hannah, b. Dec. 8, 1777 ; 6. Mehitable, 
b. Aug. 17. 1779, m. Jeremiah Spaulding, Aug. 1799; 7. Thomas, b. 
June 1, 1783, d. Jan. 22, 1803 ; 8. Henry, b. July 2. 1785. 

Asa, son of Dudley, lived a few rods northeast of the Gill place. Among 

his children was Henry, school teacher and committee man ; now a farmer 

in Illinois, Prairie City. He m. Emeline Smith, Oct. 25, 1854. 

PILLSRURY OR PILSBERRY. 

Rev. Levi Pillsbury and Sarah Pickard, his wife had children : 
• 1. Eliza, b. Sept. 25, 1802; 2. Sally D., b. May 1, 1804; 3. JohnC, 

•20 1-3 



460 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 

b. Feb. 27, 1806; 4. Dolly W., b. Apr. 4, 1807; 5. Joshua P., b. July 
12, 1809; 6. John M., b. Dec. 3, 1812; 7. Mary, b. March 13, 1815; 
8. Levi, b. Apr. 2, 1817; 9. Abigail, b. July 3, 1819. 

POLAND. 

William Poland, b. in Hamilton, Apr. 6, 1757, moved to W. in 1788, d. 
in 1843 : m. Betsey Brown of Ipswich, b. June 6, 1763, d. in 1849. Chil- 
dren born in Hamilton : 

1. Betsey, b. Jan. 18, 1782, d. July 16, 1803 ; 2. Wm. Jr., b. Dec. 
12, 1784, m. Eunice Crane of Fitzwilliam, d. June 19, 1859; 3. Nancy, 
a twin, m. Barzillai Martin, d. Sept. 12, 1859; 4. David, b. Sept. 12, 1786, 
m. Lucy Marble of Orange, d. March 15, 1846. Those born in Winchen- 
don are : 5. Susan, b. Nov. 2, 1788, m. Jolm Crane ; 6. Samuel, b. Nov. 
29, 1790, m. Thankful Smith and widow Simonds; 7. Sally, a twin, m. 
Smyrna Greaton, d. 1868; 8. Lucy, b. Oct. 29, 1792, m. Smyrna Greaton, 
d. 1846 ; 9. Polly, b. May 9, 1795, m. David Smith; 10. Olive, b. Feb. 
25, 1797, m. Phinehas Ball; 11. Simeon B., b. June 1, 1802, m. Betsey 
Wheeler. 

POLLARD. 

Francis Pollard and Eleanor his wife had children : 
1. Francis, b. July 20, 1775; 2. Bufus, b. May 6, 1782. 
Jonathan Pollard. 

Levi Pollard and Rhoda his wife had eleven children : one of them is the 
Rev. Andrew Pollard, D. D., of Taunton. 

POOR. 

Lt. David Poor, Sen., m. Jane'Martin. 

Daniel Poor m. Polly Martin. Children : 

1. Joseph, b.Dec. 15, 1799; 2. Mary, b. Feb. 1, 1801; 3. Daniel, b. 
Nov. 13, 1803; 4. Phebe, b. Jan. 16, 1806; 5. Patience, b. Apr. 24, 1807; 
6. Hosea, b. June 4, 1809; 7. Ira, b. Nov. 21, 1811 ; 8. Sally, b Sept. 
10, 1815. 

PORTER. 

John Porter and Jane his wife had children : 

1. Jane, b. July 12, 1773; 2. John, b. May 12, 1778. 

PRENTISS. 

Dea. Samuel Prentiss, Sen., m. Beulah Osgood. Children : 
1. John; 2. Samuel; 3. Levi; 4. Luke; 5. Thomas; 6. Prudence, m. 
Laban Burr. 

Samuel, son of Samuel, m. Rebekah, dau. of James McElwain. He 
was b. July 9, 1764, d. 1828; she was b. March 19, 1772, d. 1857. 
Children : 

1. Anna, b. Dec. 15, 1794, m. Jonas Brooks; 2. Samuel, b. Oct. 20, 
1796 m. Clara Whiting; 3. John, b. Dec. 4, 1798; 4. Prudence, b. Aug. 
21, 1800, d. 1855; 5. James, b. Feb. 28, 1803, d. 1856; 6. Levi, b. 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 467 

Feb. 11, 1805; 7. Rebekah, b. May 27, 1807, m. Elipbalet Parks; 8. 
Mary. b. Feb. 12, 1810, d. 1832 ; 9. William, b. Aug. 9, 1812, d. 1863; 
10. Henry, b. Apr. 20, 1815, d. same year. 
Luke, son of Samuel, m. Susanna Wilder. Children : 
1. Emma, b. Aug. 12, 1797; 2. Horace, b. June 2G, 1799; 3. Gil- 
man, b. Feb. 13, 1801 ; 4. Harriet, b. Feb. 9, 1803; 5. Maryanna, b. 
Feb. 1, 1807; 6. Lucy Sylvester, b. March 1, 1809. 

PRIEST. 

Joshua Priest, frozen to death. 

Joseph Priest and Patience Wilder his wife had : 

Levi, b. Oct. 16, 1785, m. Hannah Woodbury, and had several children ; 
among them is : 

Mr. Frank Priest, father of Miss N. A. W. Priest, author of " Over the 
River." 

Samuel Priest and Susanna his wife had children : 

1. Henry, b. Feb. 5, 1783; 2. Samuel, b. Feb. 18, 1785. 

PROUTY OR PROUGHTY. 

Isaac Prouty and Molly his wife had children : 

1. Isaac, b. Jan. 2, 1780; 2. Molly; 3. Asenah ; 4. Hannah; 5. Sa- 
rah; 6. Charlotte; 7. John W; the latter b. June 23, 1793. 

PUSIIEY. 

Gabriel Pushey, of Acadia, had children : 

1. Nathan Pushey, first male child in town; 2. Ruth, m. Pea. Richard 
Day. Probably others. Mr. Pushey lived near the spot where Pea. Out- 
er's house stands. Mrs. P. was struck by lightning, but not killed. 

RAYMOND. 

Paul Raymond, son of Paul and Tabitha, b. at Salem, May 12, O. S., 1732 ; 
Moved to Holden, and thence to W. Pied in 1817, aged 87. He m. Abi- 
gail Jones, dau. of James and Abigail, b. at Westown, April 6, O. S., 1734, 
d. 1809, aged 75. They were married in Nov. 1755. Children : 

1. Eunice, b. Jan. 12, 1757, d. Sept. 29, 1759; 2. Paul, b. Aug. 13, 
1759, d. July 12, 1832, aged 72 ; 3. James, b. Pec 9, 1761 ; 4. Joel, b. 
Pec. 9, 1764; 5. Abigail, b. Feb. 24, 1767, ra. George Coffin; 6. Jesse, 
b, May 4, 1769; 7. Silas, b. Oct. 15, 1771 ; 8. Liberty, b. July 7, 1774; 
9. Anna, b. Nov. 7, 1776. All born in Holden. 

Paul, son of Paul, m. Sarah Gale, b. in Holden, July 29, 1759. She 
died in W., January 1, 1822, aged 63. Children : 

1. Tyler, b. in Holden, May 28, 1781 ; 2. Paul, in Winehendon, Nov 

2. 1782, m. Afigail Brown. He was deacon of the first Ch. and d. in 1867 ; 

3. John, b. Pec. 16, 1784; 4. Abigail, b. Pec. 22, 1786, d. in 1796 ; 
5. Sally, b. June 28, 1789; 6. Lyman, b. March 15, 1791, m. Zeruiah 
Adams; 7. Nancy, b. June 20, 1793, d. in 1801 ; 8. Asenath, b. Pec. 
3, 1795; 9. Sumner, b. April 5, 1799 ; 10. George, b. June 16, 1801 ; 
11. Harriet, b. Nov. 1, 1803. 



468 HISTORY OF WINCIIENDON. 

James, son of Col. Paul, m. widow Molly Gale, Jan. 11. 1789. She 
(1. Sept. 19, 1831, and he m. widow Dolly Haven, Dee. 27, 1832. He 
d. Aug. 18, 1834. The children, all by first wife, were : 

1. Levi, b. Aug. 17, 1789, m. Sophia Greenwood, d. in 18G8; 2. Pol- 
ly, b. April 4, 1791, m. Ezra Hyde, d. Oct. 11, 1841 ; 3. James, b. Oct. 
17, 1792; 4. Nathan, b. June 29, 1794 ; 5. Lucinda, b. Feb. 18, 1796 ; 
6. Clark, b. Nov. 13, 1797; 7. Fidelia, b. January 13, 1800. 

Jesse, son of Col, Paul, m. Polly Miller. Children : 

1. Daughter, b. Oct. 24, 1792, d. same day ;_ 2. Amey, b. Nov. 6, 
1794; 3. Charles, b. July 23, 1790 ; 4. Joel, b. June 3, 1798 ; 5. Lin- 
coln, b. Feb. 17, 1800 ; 6. James, b. Sept. 24, 1801 ; 7. Lucy, b. Apr. 
25, 1803 ; 8. b. April 16, 1805; 9. Nahum Jones, b. Aug. 11, 1808. 

REED. 

Lincoln Reed and Betsey his wife had children : 

1. Mary Ann; 2. Nathan; 3. Betsey; 4. Harriet; 5. John; 6. Mar- 
tha; 7. John; 8. Nelson; 9. Sarah Jane. 

RICE. 

Capt. David Rice and Sarah his wife had the following children : 

1. Nathaniel, b. Aug. 25, 1778 ; 2. Martha, b. March 30, 1780, d. Nov. 
8, 1792; 3. David, b. Jan. 8, 1782 ; 4. Sarah, b. Apr. 18, 1784; 5. Ru- 
fus, b. June 1, 1786 ; 6. Achsah, b. March 23, 1788 His second wife was 
Eunice Hosmer. Their children were : 7. Persis, b. Oct. 8, 1791 ; 8. Asa, 
b March 31, 1793; 9. Josiah, b. Oct. 4, 1794, d. Apr. 9, 1795 ; 10. Jed- 
idiah, b. June 2, 1796; 11. Tabitha, b. Apr. 8, 1800. 

Lieut. Benjamin Rice came to town in 1772, and settled where his son Luke 
now lives, the next year. His wife was Ruth Budge. Children : 

1. Amos, b. Feb. 12, 1778 ; 2. Betsey, b. April 1, 1783; 3. Katha- 
rine, b. May 30, 1786 ; 4. Eunice, b. Aug. 11, 1789; 5. Luke, b. May 18, 
1793. 

RICHARDSON. 

Ebenezcr Richardson m. Sarah Richardson. 
Ebcnezer, Jr. 

ROBBINS. 

William Robbins, Sen., m. Nancy Leland. Children: 
1. William; 2. Joseph. 

William Robbin3 m. Eunice Ware. Children : 

Nahum, David, and sisters. 

Joseph Robbins and Sarah his wife had children : 

1. Alonzo W., b. Nov. 15. 1805 ; 2. Abigail E , b. Mar. 23, 1808; 3, 
Joseph A., b. Oct. 10, 1809 ; 4. Joseph, b. May 22, 1811 ; 5 and 6. Su- 
san and Sarah, b. May 1, 1813; 7. Hervey; 8. Frances. 

ROBERTS. 

David Roberts m. a sister of Col. Woodbury. Children : 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 469 

1. Betsey, b. June 4, 1798; 2. David, b. Aug. 13, 1800; 3. Isaac W., 
b. April 21, 1803. 

ROSS. 

Phinehas Ross and Betsey bis wife bad cbildren : 

1. Estber, b. Aug. 13,1816; 2. Phinehas M. ; 3. Almeda; 4. Robin- 
son; 5. Betsey; 6. William, and 7. Alexander Hastings, b, Apr. 28, 1831, 
Cong'l minister at Springfield, Obio. 

RUSSELL. 

Samuel Russell and Martba (b. at Littleton, Apr. 6, 1764,) bis wife bad 
cbildren : 

1. Peter, b. at Litttleton, Aug. 7, 1786; 2. Stepben, b. at Littleton, Jan. 
15, 1769; 3. Lydia, b. July 16, 1771; 4. Rebecca, b. Aug. 5, 1773; 5. 
Betty, b. June 15, 1775 ; 6. Jobn, b. Aug. 29, 1778. 

SARGENT. 

Samuel Sargent, Sen., m. Mary Vryling. Cbildren : 

1. Mary, b. July 16, 1790; 2. Elizabetb, b. May 16, 1792; 3. Lydia, 
b. Feb. 11, 1794 ; 4. Noab, b. Oct. 28, 1795 ; 5. Aaron, b. Oct. 24, 1797, 
d. Oct. 24, 1797 ; 6. Aaron, b. Nov. 26, 1799. 

SCOTT. 

Jacob Scott m. Polly Maynard. Tbey came from Harvard. Cbildren : 
1. Abigail; 2. Israel; 3. Daniel, died young; 4. Daniel M.; 5. Elijab 

S.; 6. Jacob; 7 and 8. Abram and Mary ; 9. Jobn M.; 10. Rutb ; 11. 

William. 

SIIERWIN. 

Ebenezer Sberwin m. Lucy Curtiss. Cbildren : 

1. Ebenezer, b. Dec. 11, 1775 ; 2. Susanna, b. Oct. 11, 1778; 3. Eliel, 
b. Apr. 21, 1780; 4. Lucy, b. Nov. 1, 1781 ; 5. Patty, b. May 5, 1783; 
6. Nancy, b. June 5, 1785 ; 7. Alvina, b. March 8, 1787 ; 8. Robert, b. 
Dec. 23, 1790; 9. Arba, b. Nov. 7, 1791; 10. Ivory, b. Sept. 18, 1793; 
11. Samuel, b. Apr. 26, 1796; 12. Sarab. b. Nov. 3, 1797; 13. Hiram, 
b. July 4, 1800. 

Ebenezer Sberwin, son of Ebenezer, and Sarab bis wife bad cbildren : 
1. Francis, b. July 9, 1770; 2. Azarias, b. May 2, 1773. 
Eliel Sberwin, son of Ebenezer, Sen., and Dolly bis wife had cbildren : 
1. Dolly B., b. March 12, 1804; 2. Alathine, b. Jan. 12, 1806; 3. 
Lucy, b. May 5, 1807; 4. Joanna, b. June 11, 1809 ; 5. JohnMelanc- 
thon Wells, b. Jan. 26, 1811 ; 6. Elvira, b. Feb. 19, 1813 ; 7. Eliel, b. 
Nov. 3, 1814; 8. Harriet, b. Feb. 27, 1817; 9. Maria, b. March 20, 
1819; 10. Jonas B., b. Jan. 30, 1821; 11 and 12. John Chrysostom 
Wolfgang Theophilus, and Mozart, b. July 21, 1822 ; 13. Elvba, b. Nov. 
20,1825; 14. Dolly, b. Feb. 18, 1828; 15. Lyman Harrington, b. Oct. 
29, 1829. - 
Abimaaz Sherwin and Ruth bis wife bad children : 



470 HISTORY OP WINCHENDON. 

1. Ruth, b. July 9, 1770 ; 2. Asa, b. Dec. 27, 1782 ; 3. Ruth, b. Oct. 
11, 1785. 

SIMONDS. 

Elder Samuel Simonds and Sally his wife had children : 
1. James L. ; 2. George W. ; 3. Albert G.; 4. Lucius Bolles; 5. James 
M. ; 6. Frederick A. 

SMITH. 

John Smith and Sarah his wife had children : 

1. Sally, b. Sept. 7, 1782; 2. Esther, b. March 25, 1787. 

Ebenezer and Anna Smith had children : 

1. Joel; 2. Ezra; 3. Enos, all born between 1773 and 1781. 

Reuben Smith and Burnam his wife, had : 

Abraham,^. Dec. 30, 1765. 

Ely Smith and Elenor his wife had children : 

1. Elenor, b. Oct. 20, 1769 ; 2. Ely, b. May 15, 1771 ; 3. Ruth, b. Apr. 
22, 1773 ; 4. Lucy, b. Nov. 27, 1774 ; 5. Jonas, b. Apr. 20, 1776 ; 6. Lyd- 
ia, b. July, 1777 ; 7. An infant that died soon ; 8. Abijah, b. July 20, 

1784. 

Jonathan Smith and Mary his wife had children : 

1. David, b. Sept. 5, 1779; 2. Jonathan, b. Aug. 23, 1781; 3. John, 
b. Aug. 24, 1786 ; 4. Nabbe, b. July 10, 1788 ; 5. Polly, b. Apr. 9, 1790; 
6. George, b. Dec. 30, 1791. 

Dea. Joshua Smith and Eunice his wife had children : 

1. Lucy, b. Feb. 1, 1811; 2. Joshua, b. Aug. 8, 1814; 3. Eunice, b. 
Jan. 7, 1818 ; 4. Reuben T., b. July 6, 1825; 5. Melzar D., b. Oct. 27, 
1827 ; 6. Moses {not David,) lost a hand in the battle of Princeton. He is 
referred to on p. 105. 

STEARNS. 

Bartholomew Stearns, b. Aug. 15, 1740, ra. Mary Raymond, b. May 10, 
1745, in March, 1768. 

His son Amos, m. Deborah Hunt, Dec. 31, 1803. Children : 

1. Levi, b. Aug. 15, 1804 ; 2. Mary, b. June 14, 1806 ; 3. Dolly H., 
b. May 2, 1808; 4. Bartholomew F., b. March 5. 1811 ; 5. William, b. 
June 15, 1812; 6. Amos E.,b. Jan. 15, 1814; 7. Eli, b. May 16, 1815. 
Wife died Feb. 7, 1817. He m. widow Sarah Maynard, born Miller, Dec. 
25, 1817. Children: 8. Miriam E., b. Oct. 13, 1818; 9. Isaac M., b. 
June 4, 1821 ; 10. Deborah H., b. June 5, 1823 ; 11. Nancy M., b. Dec. 
5, 1825 ; 12. Harriet M., b. Nov. 2, 1829; 13. LavinaH., b. Nov. 14, 
1835. 

Simeon Stearns and Lydia his wife had children : 

1. Simeon A.; 2. Daniel Bailey, b. Apr. 10, 1818; 3. Mary E., 4. 
Lucy ; 5. Benjamin F. ; 6. Lydia. 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 471 

STEEL. 

Samuel Steel and Rachel his wife had children : 

1. William, b. April 20, 1777 ; 2. James, b. May 11, 1779 ; 3. Sally, b. 
Fb. 25, 1781 ; 4. Samuel, b. July 14, 1785 ; 5. Rachel, b. March 4, 1788 ; 
6. Nabbe, b. Aug. 17, 1790. 

James Steel and Susanna his wife had children : 

1. Susanna; 2. Elizabeth, b. March 3, 1789; 3. Levi, b. Oct. 29, 1791 . 

STIMPSON. 

Rev. Daniel Stimpson m. his cousin, Beulah Stimpson. Children : 
1. Luther; 2. Sarah or Sally; 3 and 4. Twin sons, b. March 22, 1763. 
Both died within a day. His wife died in 1767, and himself in 1768. 
Luther m. Sally McElwain. Children : 

1. Daniel, b. June 9, 1789; 2. James, b. June 12, 1791 ; 3. Luther, 
b. Aug. 19, 1794 ; 4. Levi, b. July 15, 1796 ; 5. Sally, b. Nov. 24, 
1798. 
Sarah m. Bemsley Lord and had four children. One was : 
Eunice, who died the present year. 
Jonathan Stimpson and Esther his wife had children : 
Jonathan, b. Aug. 8, 1762; 2. Joel, b. Nov. 16, 1763. Both born in 
Weston. The following in Winchendon : 3. John, b. Jan. 30, 1766 ; 4. 
Jonathan, b. March 5, 1768 ; 5. Ephraim, b. Jan. 15, 1770 ; 6. Esther, b. 
Sept. 9, 1771 ; 7. Daniel, b. March, 2, 1773. The Stimpsons were so nu- 
merous that outsiders sometimes called Winchendon by the name of " Stimp- 
son Town." 

STODDARD. 

David Stoddard m. Sybil Leavitt. Children : 

David, b. in 1743, m. Lydia Brown ; found dead in his bed, July 18, 

1818. 

Joshua Stoddard, b. Jan. 16, 1778, m. Lois Balcom, b. June 6, 1775. 
Children : 

Seven who died young; four of them in the terrible sickness of 1810. 8. 
James M., b. March 30, 1816; 9. Pamela, b. Aug. 28, 1819. 

STONE. 

Samuel Stone and Martha his wife had children : 

1. Eunice, b. March 17, 1778; 2. Samuel, b. June 30, 1779 ; 3. Jo- 
seph, b. June 8, 1781 ; 4. Josiah, b. Apr. 22, 1783. 

STUART. 

Jeremiah Stuart and Hannah his wife had children : 
1. Paul, b. June 8, 1762 ; 2. Jeremiah, b. July 6, 1767 ; 3. Elizabeth, 
b. Aug. 22, 1769 ; 4. Hannah, b. Nov. 4, 1774 ; 5. John, b. Jan. 21, 1778 ; 
6. Richard, b. March 25, 1780. 

Paul Stewart m. Hannah Robbins and had children : 
1. Enoch, b-. May 17, 1791 ; 2. Keziah, b. July 2, 1794 ; 3. Joseph 
B., b. Nov. 19, 1797. 



472 HISTORY OF WINCIIENDON. 

8WEETLAND. 

Thomas and Abigail Sweetland had children : 

1. Benjamin, b. July 30, 1763; 2. Betty, b. Nov. 7, 1765. 

SWEETZER. 

Philips Sweetzer and Persis his wife had children : 
1. Esther, b. Sept. 20, 1786. 

SYLVESTER. 

Nathaniel Sylvester and Lucy Clapp his wife had : 
Lucy, b. in 1783 j Evelina, b. March 7, 1800. 

TAYLOR. 

Isaac Taylor, b. in Stow, Jan. 25, 1765, d. Dec. 25, 1848 ; m. Betsey 
Whitney of Watertown, b. March 7, 1769, d. June 18, 1844. Children: 

1. Edward L., b. May 50, 1790; 2. Isaac, Jr., b. Oct. 19, 1794, d. 
Feb. 3, 1837; 3. Lois, b. Aug. 19, 1796; 4. Betsey, b. May 5, 1798; 
5. Abel, b. Apr. 3, 1800, d. in 1820; 6. Cynthia, b. Feb. 17, 1802; 7. 
Nancy, b, Apr. 15, 1804, d. in infancy; 8 and 9. Abraham and Jacob, b. 
July 15, 1805; Jacob d. Jan. 11, 1864; 10. William, b. May 2, 1808; 
11. Addison, b. July 17, 1810, d. March 4, 1837, in Columbus, Texas ; 12. 
Nelson, b. June 16, 1813. 

TITUS. 

Samuel and Anna Titus had children : 

1. John, b. Aug. 1, 1761 ; 2. Eleazar, b. Apr. 5, 1763; 3. Samuel, b. 
March 2, 1765. 

TOLMAN. 

Dea. Desire Tolman, b. in Dorchester, m. Elizabeth Howe, resided on the 
Col. Berry place. Children : 

1. Elizabeth, b. Feb. 7, 1789; 2. John, b. July 12, 1791 ; 3. James, 
b. Dec. 24, 1793 ; 4. Sally, b. Apr. 2, 1793, d. Apr. 22, 1793 ; 5. Joseph, 
b. March 7, 1796, d. July 13, 1796 ; 6. Samuel H. ; 7. William ; 8. Ste- 
phen ; 9. Charles. 

William, son of Desire, m. Mercy Brown. Children : 
1. Eliza, b. Apr. 12, 1804 ; 2. William M., b. May 3, 1806 ; 3. Har- 
riet, b. July 6, 1808; 4. Stephen, b. July 16, 1811. 

TOWNE. 

Absalom Towne m. Judith Hale. Children : 

1. Judith, b. Aug. 7, 1768; 2. Phinehas,b. Sept. 11, 1770; 3. David, b. 
Oct. 13, 1772; 4. Abel, b. May 13, 1775; 5. Amos, b. June 4, 1777 ; 6. 
Hitty, b. Oct. 29, 1779 ; 7. Asa, b. Apr. 25, 1782 ; 8 and 9. Silas and 
Sally, b. Jan. 21, 1786; 10. Betsey, b. Sept. 1, 1788; 11. Levina, b. 
Sept. 9, 1792. The family moved to Central N. Y. 

TUCKER. 

Seth Tucker, b. Jan. 18, 1760, d. in 1865, aged 98 ; m. on the 31st of 
Nov. 1791, to Jane Payson, b. March 11, 1761, d. 1813, aged 42. Chil- 
dren : 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 473 

1. Nathaniel; 2. Elliot P. ; 3. Same name ; 4. Betsey P. ; 5. Joshua; 
6. Jane; 7. Seth; 8. Elisha; 9. Same name; 10. Samuel; 11. Same name; 
12. Susanna. 

Elisha Tucker, br. of Seth, m. Sarah Preston. Children : 
■ 1. Mary S., b. Oct. 17, 1793 ; 2. Sarah P., b. July 17, 1795 ; 3. Eli- 
sha, b. July 24, 1797 ; 4. Joanna How, b. June 24, 1799 ; 5. Abigail E., 
b. Apr. 23, 1803. 

TUTTLE. 

Jedidiah Tuttle m. Lucy Smith. Children : 

1. James, b. Aug. 10, 1780; 2. David, b. Dec. 3, 1782; 3. Jedidiah, 
b, April 18, 1785 ; 4. Frances, b. March 9, 1788 ; 5. Clarissa, b. Nov. 2, 
1790 ; 6. Electus, b. Feb. 8, 1793 ; 7. Silas, b. Nov. 8, 1795 , -8. Eli, b. 
July 5, 1797; 9. Ainsworth,b. Jan. 1, 1799; 10. Sarah S., b. Jan. 5, 1802. 

Simon Tuttle, Sen., m. Phebe — ■ — . Children : 

Simon, b. Jan. 15, 1791 ; Phebe ; John ; Lucy ; John ; Jewett ; Joseph > 
Daniel; Mary; Stillman; Phebe; and 12. Anna, b. Nov. 12, 1811. 

VOSE. 

Reuben Vose, Sen., had : 

Reuben, Jr., who m. Hannah . Children : 

1. Abigail, b. Apr. 24, 1807 ; 2. Charles; 3. Mary Ann; 4. Son, d. 
early; 5. Jerusha; 6. Reuben, b. Dec. 24, 1824. 

WALES. 

Capt. Jacob Wales m. Phebe Howard. Children : 

1. Jacob; 2. Abigail, m. Levi "Woodbury and Ephraim Murdock. 

WALKER. 

Samuel Walker m. Betsey Wyman. Children : 

1. Betsey, b. Aug. 22, 1796; 2. Joanna; 3. Demas; 4. Samuel; 5. 
Patty; 6. Sally; 7. Lovell; 8. Leonard; 9. Seth, b. June 1, 1824. 

WIIITCOMB. 

Israel Whitcomb m. Eunice Wilson. Children : 

1. Rufus, b. May 8, 1784 ; 2. Caty, b. Nov. 4, 1786, d. Sept. 19, 1789 ; 
3. Caty, b. July 21, 1790; 4. Mark, b. Nov. 10, 1792, m. Lucy Murdock. 

WHITNEY. 

Silas Whitney was in W. as early as 1764. In that year he was chosen 
church warden, and surveyor of boards and shingles. He kept the tavern at 
the Centre for a time. 

Jacob Whitney lived during several years in a house northeast of the John 
Crosby place ; perhaps half way down towards the Monomonauk ; and three- 
quarters of a mile north of Spring Village. He afterwards lived on the Hub- 
bard place, where'his son Elias, the surveyor, lived and died. Besides Elias, 
he had a daughter Sarah, b. Oct. 27, 1794, d. July 26, 1797. 

30 



474 HISTORY OP WINCHENDOST. 

William Whitney, not nearly related to the William Whitney whose family 
follows next below, kept the tavern at the Centre, and afterwards left the place. 

William Whitney settled in Winchendon, about 1774. lie was the eldest 
child of William Whitney and his wife, Hannah Harrington, and great-great- 
grandson of John Whitney, Jr., of Watertown, who came from England " in 
the ship Elizabeth and Ann, Roger Cooper, Blaster," in 1635, at the age of 
eleven years, with his father, mother and four younger brothers. William 
Whitney was born in Weston, April 10, 1736. He was married, June 14, 
1762, to Mary Mansfield of Weston, by Rev. Samuel Woodward. Children : 

1. William; 2. Phinchas; 3. Mary; 4. Joseph; 5. Amasa ; 6. Sally: 
7. Luke. He d. July 10, 1817 ; wife d. Dec. 17, 1815. 

William, son of William, born in 1765, m. Ann Hcywood of Gardner, 
January* 13, 1791. He moved to Gardner, and died there in 1846; his 
wife died a few days after, and both were buried at the same time. Mr. 
Washington Wbitney, and Mrs. Betsey Wcller of this town are his grand- 
children. 

Phinehas, son of William, Sen., b. April 1, 1766, m. Phebe Stearns, 
Jan. 17, 1793, and had : 

1. Phinehas, b. in 1794, d. July 12, 1804. His wife Phebe died Apr. 
7, 1794, aged 20. He married Bethiah Barrett of Barre, Feb. 15, 1796, 
and had children : 2. Phebe; 3. Lucy, b. June 4, 1797, m. Rev. Ben- 
jamin Rico of South Deerfield; 4. William Barrett, b. Jan. 14, 1801; 
5. Mary, b. March 17, 1803, m. Dr. Alvah Godding; 6 and 7. Phinehas 
and Nelson, who died young; 8. Sarah Ann, b. Jan. 30, 1809, m. Josiah 
Brown and C. W. Bigelow; 9. Louisa, b. May 30, 1812, m. Rev. Giles 
H. Lyman. He died May 10, 1831 ; his wife d. Aug. 2, 1849. 

Mary, dau. of William, Sen , b. April 10, 1773, m. in 1799, Benjamin 
Heywood, son of Seth Heywood of Gardner, gr. of Phinehas, and great- 
gr. of Dea. John Heywood of Concord. Children : 

1. Levi; 2. Benjamin P.; 3. Walter; 4. William; 5. Seth; 6. Charles. 

Joseph, son of William, Sen., b. May 20, 1775, m., in 1799, Hannah, 
dau. of Dudley Pcrlcy. Children : 

1. Joseph, b. Oct. 10, 1800, m. Abigail Fliut; 2. Dudley, b. July 12, 
1802, m. Mary S. Shore ; 3. Seba, b. Feb. 21, 1805, m. Geo. Cummings ; 
4. Thomas, b. March, 1807 ; 5. Hannah, b. Aug. 6, 1809, m. Joseph 
Adams, and Horace Whitcomb; 6. Cynthia, b. Jan. 25, 1812; 7. Will- 
iam, b. July 29, 1814, m. Mary Glines ; 8. Grover S., b. July 10, 1816, 
m. Laura Robey; 9. Betsey E., b. May 21, 1825, m. Almon H. Poland. 

Amasa, son of William, Sen., b. June 16, 177.7 ; m., Dec, 1802, Ma- 
ry, dau. of Daniel Goodridge, b. March 20, 1779. He d. Feb. 2, 1852 ; 
she d. Jan. 11, 1855. Children: 

1. Webster, b. Oct. 6, 1803, in., March 16, 1828, Eliza Parks Whit- 
man, who d. March 4, 1867 ; 2. Amasa, b. Apr. 24, 1806, m., July 24, 
1834, Mary Murdoek; 3. Harriet, b. Jan. 27, 1811, m. C. C. Pierce, 
Nov. 13, 1833, d. Nov. 18, 1867 ; 4. Wm. Lowe, b. March 24, 1815, 
d. July 13, 1832; 5. Baxter D., b. June 28, 1817, m. March 1, 1846, 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 475 

Sarah Jane Whitney; 6. Mary Goodridge, b. Aug. 2, 1819, m. July 8, 
1841, Wm. Murdock; 7. John Milton, b. Dec. 18, 1823, d. Sept. 20, 
1825. 

Sally, dau. of William, Sen., b. Sept. 3, 1779, m. Jan. 12, 1802, Smyr- 
na Bancroft of Gardner. Her children are : 

Dea. Smyrna Bancroft, Amasa Bancroft, President of Gardner Bank, 
and Mrs. Smith. 

Luke, son of William, Sen., lived in Gardner. 

Hananiah Whitney, Sen., m. Azubah . Children : 

1. Moses, b. Nov. 23, 1789; 2. Hananiah, b. May 29, 1792 ; 3. Alphe- 
us,b. March 8, 1794; 4. Azubah, b. Aug. 25, 1796; 5. Artemas, b. Sept. 
5, 1798 ; 6. Stacey ; 7. Barsina, b. Feb. 4, 1801 ; 8. Esther, b. Jan. 13, 
1803; 9. Silas S., b. June 27, 1805; 10. Levi P., b. Aug. 19, 1807; 

11. Samuel A., b. Nov, 10, 1809; 12. Abigail F., b. Dec. 27, 1812. 

Hananiah Whitney, Jr., m. Mary Leavitt, dau. of Stowers Bcals. Chil- 
dren : 

1. George Leavitt. He then m. Sarah Beaman. 2. John M.; 3. Ma- 
ry ; 4. William; 5. Henry M.; 6. Sarah; 7. Elizabeth; 8. Abigail; 9. 
Harriet ; 10. Charles. 

Silas Whitney, mentioned above, and his wife Jane had children : 

1. Love, b. Dec. 8, 1758 ; 2. David, b. Aug. 31, 1760 ; 3. Silas, b. June 

12, 1702, (all born in Princeton) ; 4. Oliver, b. Sept. 16, 1764 ; 5. Bar- 
tholomew, b. June 30, 1766; 6. Jane, b. June 6, 1768; 7. Phebe, b. Feb. 
1, 1770. 

WHITON. 

Dr. Israel Whiton b. Sept. 3, 1754, at Ashford, Conn. His father intend- 
ed that he should be educated at Yale, but he was not, on account of an im- 
pediment in his speech. He studied medicine with Dr. Huntington of West- 
ford, Conn., in 1773. Otis m. Dorothy Crosby, dau. of Samuel Crosby, Esq. 
Children : 

1. John M., b. in Winchendon, Aug. 1, 1785; 2. Dorothy, b. Apr. 6, 
1788, cl. in 1812; 3. Israel, b. May 30, 1791, d. in 1815; 4. Otis C, b. 
Sept. 27, 1794. He was twice married, but left no children. 

John M., son of Israel Whiton, m. Abigail Morris, b. at Litchfield, 
Conn., Aug. 3, 1783. Children: 

1. James Morris, b. Nov. 9, 1809; 2. Elizabeth D., b. March 7, 1811; 
3. Helen D., b. July 8, 1814; 4. Abigail, b. May 31, 1817; 5. Mary 
C, b. Feb. 20, 1819 ; 6. John. Milton, b. March 7, 1821. James M., 
the eldest son of Bev. Dr. Whiton, was a man of great energy of character, 
and was a noble pioneer in Christian abolitionism. His son, Bev. James 
M. Whiton, is pastor of the First Congregational Church in Lynn. 

WILDER. 

Hon. Abel Wilder m. Anna Butler, June 27, 1764 : Children : 
1. Eunice, b.'Apr. 22, 1765, m Eli Bruce; 2. Maryanna, b. Oct. 13, 
1766, in. Mr. Burr ; 3. Abel, b. March 15, 1768 ; 4. Thomas, b. March 1, 



47(3 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 

177<» ; 5. Grace, b. Dec. 8, 1771, m. Levi Divoll ; 6. Susanna, b. Nov. 17, 
1773, m. Luke Prentiss ; 7. David b. Oct. 10, 1775, d. May 10, 1785 ; 8. 
Martha, b. Jan. 21, 1780, m. Asaph Brown; 9. Betsey, b. Aug. 4, 1782, 
m. Aaron Knights ; 10. David, b. Dec. 5, 1785. 

Abel, son of Abel, Sen., m. Eunice Hale. Children : 

1. Abel, b. 1792, d. 1865; 2. Charles, b. in 1794, d. in 1867; 3. 

Artemas, b. in 1796, d. in 1866; 4. Moses*Hale, b. in 1798 ; 5. , 

b. in 1800, d. in 1864 ; 6. Mary, b. 1805, m. Joseph Johnson, d. 1836 ; 

7. David, b. 1805; 8. Albert, b. in 1809. All these had their birth in 

W. The family removed to Paris, N. Y., where were born : 9. Milton, 

b. in 1812; 10. Lucy, b. in 1814 ; 11. William, b. in 1816. 

David "Wilder and Elizabeth his wife had : 

John, b. Jan. 16, 1784. 

Elijah Wilder and Azubah bis wife had children : 

1. Oshea, b. July 16, 1784. 

Capt. Joseph Wilder, (br. of Hon. Abel,) and Anna Barrett his wife had 
children : 

1. Joseph, b. March 17, 1783; 2. Thomas O., b. July 14, 1784; 3. 
James, b. May 24, 1786; 4. Luke, b. Oct. 15, 1788; 5. Abel, b. March 
19, 1793. 

WITIIINGTON. 

Edward Withington and Emma his wife had children : 
1. Eunice, b. Apr. 14, 1781; 2. Betsey T., b. May 4, 1783; 3. Al- 
pheus M., b. Aug. 13, 1785 ; 4. Edward, b. Dec. 29, 1787. 

WOODBURY. 

Col. Jacob B. Woodbury, b. in Ipswich, m. Hannah Boberts. He d. in 
1839, aged 82 ; she d. in 1845, aged 85. Children : 

1. Jacob, m. Eunice Kiee; 2. John,m. Lucy Dutton, and Phebe [Wash- 
burn] Whitney ; 3. Hannah, m. Levi Priest ; 4. David, m. Esther Wales; 
5. Levi, m. Abigail Wales ; 6. Sally, m. Henry Greenwood ; 7. Rowe- 
na, m. Reuben Harris ; 8. Silas, m. Mary Woodruff and Sarah King ; 9. 
Neheuriah. 

WYMAN. 

Thomas Wyman was the gr. gr. grandson of Francis Wyman, who came 
from England, though the family is said to be of German origin. Thomas 
■was the son of Eleazar, who m. Martha Richardson, and lived in Woburn. 
Thomas was b. in Woburn. in 1745, m. Betsey Reed, May 25, 1773 ; moved 
to Templeton in 1783, and to Winchendon in 1784. Lived west of the New 
Boston Meeting House. Children : 

1. Thomas, b. 1774; 2. Betsey, b. 1775; 3. Joshua, Apr. 10, 1778; 
4. Patty or Martha, b. 1780. The above were b. in Woburn. 5. Jonathan, 
b. in Templeton, Nov. 7, 1782. The following were b. in Winchendon : 6. 
Samuel, b. 1784; 7. Silas, b. 1786; 8. Sally, b. Apr. 14, 1788; 9. Fol- 
ly, b. 1791 ; 10. Isaac, b. Sept. 29, 1794; 11. Levi, b. 1796. 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON". 477 

Thomas, son of Thomas, m. Lydia Bowker. Children: 

1. Asa, b. Oct. 2, 1800, d. Nov. 12, 1811; 2. Lydia. b. Aug. 10, 
1802, d. Sept, 10, 1820 ; 3. Olive, b. March 28, 1804, d. Nov. 10. 1811 ; 
4. Franklin, b. June 17, 1806, d. Nov. 7, 1811; 5. Stilhmm, b. May 
10, 1808, d. Nov. 15, 1811; 6. Harvey, b. Oct. 5. 1810; 7. Newell, 
b. Dec. 13, 1812, d. Sept. 15, 1813; 8. Newell, b. Feb. 6, 1814; 9. 
Olive, b. March 10, 1816, d. Oct. 10, 1841. 

Betsey, dau. of Thomas, m. Samuel Walker, and Noah Holman. She 
is now living in this town, aged 93 years. 

Joshua, son of Thomas, m. Nancy Noyes. Children : 

1. Laura, b. July 28, 1803, d. March 22, 1804 ; 2. Enoch N., b. May 
4, 1805. m. Huldah Twitchell and Mary Loveland ; 3. Gilman, b. Feb. 
12, 1807, m. Hannah Taft ; 4. Sumner, b. Feb. 22, 1809, m. Sally Lew- 
is, and Philura Pitkin ; 5. Franklin, b. Jan. 26, 1812, d. Jan. 11, 1814 ; 
<5. Henry W., b. Bee. 26, 1821. 

Patty, dau. of Thomas, m. a Mr. Stearns, and d. in New York. 

Jonathan, son of Thomas, m. Olive Alger. Children : 

1. Nelson, b. Bee. 1, 1812 d. Oct. 6, 1826 ; 2. Vesta, b. May 10, 
1815, d. Sept. 26, 1826; 3. Almeda, b. Jan. 10, 1818; 4. Olive, b. 
June 24, 1820; 5. Nathan A., b. Sept, 7, 1823, d. Jan. 3, 1827 ; 6. 
Vesta, b. Aug. 13, 1826 ; 7. Adah P., b. Dec. 13, 1828. They were m. 
Apr. 18, 1812, and have lived in the same house to the present time, fifty- 
six years. Their golden wedding was celebrated in 1862. 

Samuel, son of Thomas, m. Patty Wyman. Children : 

1. Isaac; 2. Levi; 3. Lewis; 4. Mary; 5. Mary Jane; 6. James. 

Silas, son of Thomas, m. a Miss Bowker, and Betsey Bingham. ' 

Sally, dau. of Thomas, m. John Lewis, and lived in Orange. 

Polly, dau. of Thomas, m. Joshua Clark. 

Isaac, son of Thomas, m. Mercy Poor. Children : 

1. Lucy; 2. Sylva, b. Nov. 2, 1816; 3. Sarepta, b. July 9, 1820, d. 
July 28, 1831 ; 4. Sophronia, b. July 11, 1823, m. Luke Hale. 

Levi, son of Thomas, m. Roxy Piper. Children : 

1. Orsemas; 2. Adaline. 
The preceding is a full, though not a perfect transcript of the Record 
of Births. Of some families very little is to be found ; of others, more 
might be collected by minute examination ; of others still, no notice has 
been taken, chiefly because their names have long ceased to be familiar 
here. But it can be said truly, that five times as much as was intend- 
ed, has forced itself into this chapter. When a man plunges into a gen- 
ealogical quagmire, he finds it as difficult to emerge as a swimmer who 
is entangled and drawn under by sea-weed. 

For the sake of showing how the roots of ancient families are inter- 



478 HISTORY OF WINCHENDOCT. 

twisted, the following marriages, or intentions of marriage, of a date 
previous to 1786, are here inserted. Some were married in the place 
of the bride's residence ; others, here. 

" January 4th, 1763. There was married Mr. Thomas Sweetland and 
Mrs. Abigail Pushee, boath of Ipswich Canada, in the County of Worcester, 
by the Rev. Mr. Daniel Stimson. 

Married — Bartholomew Pearson and Lydia Randal, Nov. 8, 1763. ( 

M. # — Aaron Hodgkins and Eunice Bixby, January 24,. 17G4. 

xM. — Henry Poore. of Royalston, and Kezire [Keziah] Foster, Seoternber 
11, 1764. 

Tnt. — Simeon Burnam and Mary Warson, April 27, 1765. 

Int. — Joseph Boynton and Zeruiah Wilder, Sept. 30, 1765. 

M. — James Mansfield and Lowis Darling, March 4, 1766. 

Int. — Isaac Stimson and Elizabeth Bixby, April 12, 1766, and married 
on the 26th of March, 1767. 

Int.— William Moffatt and Mary Priest, June 6, 1766. 

Int. — Daniel Goodridge and Hannah Lowe, July 5, 1766. 

M.— Levi Bixby and Ruth Darling, Oct. 2. 1766. 

Int. — Abncr Hale and Abigail Goodridge, Nov. 18, 1766. 

Int. — Richard Person and Kezia Bixbe, May 30, 1767, and married Ju- 
ly 6, 1767. 

Int. — Dudley Perley and Hannah Hall, August 11, 1767. 

Int.— Jonathan Bixbe and Esther Gale, Nov. 1, 1767. 

[The greater part of the above were married by Mr. Stimscn.] 

M.— Daniel Gould and Mary Porter, Feb. 15, 1770. 

M. — John Joiner, or Joyner, and Jerusha Bixby, July 10, 1770. 

M.— John Day and Elizabeth Joslin, Jan'y 10, 1771. 

M. — David Goodridge and Silena Joslin, Aug. 20, 1772. 

M.— Abijah Stimson and Lois Bixby, Sept. 28, 1772. 

M. — Ephraim Sawyer and Peggy Fisher, Dec 3, 1772. 

M. — Job Boynton of Monadnock No. 4, N. H., and Mary Joslin, March 
18, 1773. 

M. — Samuel Steele and Rachel Putnam, Nov. 4, 1773. 

M. — Nathan Green and Lucy Gardner, March 20, 1774. 

Int.' — John Porter and Jane Stuart, Sept. 28. 1771. 

Int. — Stephen Boynton and Tabitha Foster, Dec. 14, 1771. 

Int. — Samuel Mason and Sarah Whitney, May 26, 1772. 

Int. — Solomon Biglow and Hannah Sanders, June 10, 1772. 

Int. — Francis Bridge and Eunice Brown, Dec. 10, 1772. 

Int. — Levi Carter and Silence Beeman, Nov. 13, 1773. 

M. — Jonathan Evans and Mchitabel Sherwin, July 21, 1771. 

M. — Ebenezer Sherwin, Jr. and Lucy Bradish, Dec. 14, 1774. 

M. — Elisha Brown and Merrill Bales, Nov. 16, 1775. 

M.— Jonathan Smith and Mary Barrett, May 29, 1776. 

M. — Philips Rollins and Abigail Porter, April 29, 1777. 

*IM. stands for married ; Int. for intentions. 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 479 

M. — Samuel Brown and Leavina Brace, July 14, 1777. 
M. — Ephraim Parmenter and Unity Darling, July 17, 1777. 
M.— Daniel Joslin and Mary Nichols, Oct. 20, 1777. 
M. — John Bemis and Lucy Bates, April 28, 1778. 
M.— James Bates and Elizabeth Nichols, Oct. 12, 1778. 
M.— John Marble and Sarah Curtice, Nov. 5, 1778. 
M. — Amos Hale and Sarah Day, March 23, 1779. 
M. — Abiel Boynton and Lois Raymond, March 30, 1779. 
M.— Levi Bisby and Tabitha Boynton, May 13, 1779. 
M.— David Foster and Elizabeth Minot, May 27, 1779. 
M. — Joseph Mastick and Mary Putnam, Sept. 14, 1779. 
M.— Edward Putnam and Hannah Mastick, Sept. 28, 1779. 
M. — Amos Raymond and Alice Joslin, Dec. 9, 1779. 
M. — Joseph Stimson and Elizabeth Goodenough, April 27, 1780. 
M. — David Heywood and Abigail Bixby, May 11, 1780. 
M. — Zebulon Stratton and Jerush Bradish, June 9, 1780. 
M. — Samuel Bradish and Hannah Dunton, Nov. 29, 1780. 
M. — Ahimaaz Sherwin and Ruth Day, Dec. 1780. 
M. — Edward Payson and Eunice Nichols, Sept. 2, 1771. 
M. — Antipas Dodge and Luhy Woodward, March 8, 1772. 
M— David Wilder and Elizabeth Reed, Nov. 28, 1782. 
M.— Nathaniel Bixby and Abigail Heywood, March 15, 1782. 
M. — Nathan Stoddard and Lydia Dunton, July 1, 1784. 
M.— Dr. Israel Wliiton and Dolly Crosby, Nov. 2 1784. 
M.— Phillips Sweetzer, 3d, and Persis Joslin, May 29 1785. 
M.— Abel Brown and Sally Stoddard, June 23, 1785. 
M. — Daniel Bradish and Phebe Jones, August 4, 1785. 
M. — Capt. Allen Todd, foreigner, and Mary Millago, Boston, August 12, 
1785. 

M. — Beamsly Lord and Sally Stimson, Oct. 5, 1785. 

M. — Amos Heywood and Mrs. Kezia Person, Oct. 6, 1785. 

M. — Paul Heywood and Amity Darling, Dec. 15, 1785. 

M.— Zephaniah Wood and Sarah Litch, Feb. 28, 1785. 

Int. — John Kidder and Dolly Joslin, Jan'y 7, 1785. 

Int. — Nathan Maynard aud Lydia Butler, January, 1785. 

Int. — Francis Whitcomb and Alice Houghton, October, 1785. 

Int. — Jonathan Broadstreet and Elizabeth Handsome, February, 1785." 

The above, with few exceptions, were married by Rev. Joseph Brown. 
Afterwards, quite a number were joined in marriage by Abel Wilder 
and Samuel Crosby, Esqrs. It appears that many families were numer- 
ous ; sometimes the children counted up to ten or twelve and even fif- 
teen ; in a few cases perhaps the number was still greater. The con- 
trast is certainly great between those times and these, when — in a cer- 
tain stratum of society — it takes three families to raise two children. 
It would seem jis if female labor, in every sense of the word, was in the 
process of transfer, here in New England, from native-born women to 



480 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 

the daughters of Irish and German blood. If so, then population, 
wealth, power and honor, will be the inheritance of their children. 

At this point the History of Winchendon, as originally designed, 
should end. The year 1864 filled out one hundred years from the in- 
corporation of the town. A few facts, however, belonging to the fol- 
lowing years, have been inserted. And as the expressed wish of the 
town, and the obvious propriety of the case, requires, another chapter 
will be added, giving the action of the town, and of her brave soldiers, 
in putting down the late wicked rebellion. 



Note. Under the name Greenwood, on page 456, several names were 
omitted. The children of Thomas Greenwood were : 

1. John; 2. Deborah, m. Stephen Tolman ; 3. Oliver; 4. Thomas;, 5. 
Henry ; 6. Sophia, m. Levi Raymond . 7. Levi. 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 481 



CHAPTER XXXIII. — THE WAR OP 
FREEDOM. 



" In peace, there's nothing so becomes a man, 

As modest stillness and humility ; 

But when the blast of war blows in our ears, 

Then imitate the action of the tiger ; 

Stiffen the sinews, summon up the blood, 

Disguise fair nature with hard-favor'd rage : 

Then leud the eye a terrible aspect ; — 

Now set the teeth, and stretch the nostril wide ; 

Hold hard the breath, and bend up every spirit 

To its full height." 

Henry V. 

SECTION 1. — OUTBREAK OP THE REBELLION. 

In this chapter will be given as much of the history of the town in 
connection with the rebellion, as can be condensed into the space that 
is left. The people here had partaken of the spirit of the loyal North, 
during all the months of winter, while the southern states were prepar- 
ing to secede from the Union, form a southern confederacy, and set 
the national government at defiance. When the news came, on the 
14th of April, that the rebels had made their nefarious attack on 
fort Sumter, and that it had been surrendered to them by Major An- 
derson, and his few brave soldiers, the hearts of the people were ani- 
mated by one common desire and determination to uphold the govern- 
ment, suppress the rebellion, and at the same time, remove the cause 
of it, by the abolition of slavery. At that time, public sentiment with 
U3 was in advance of the nation generally and of the authorities at Wash- 
ington. With almost entire unanimity, the voice of the citizens was 
for war, not from revenge, or from hatred of the southern rebels, but 
because of their love of country and of freedom. 

Without any formal call, the inhabitants held large meetings on Mon- 
day and Tuesday evenings, April 15th and 16th, to give expression to 
their feelings, and to organize for action. The meeting on Monday 



482 HISTORY OP WINCHBND02T. 

evening was held in the town hall ; that on Tuesday evening assembled 
in the street, between the town hall and the post office, because no hall 
or church would accommodate the multitude. Hon. Giles H. Whitney 
presided and addresses were made by many gentlemen, all animated 
by a fervent love of the national flag. Some of the speakers were 
Messrs. Whitney, Dr. Godding, Capt. E. Murdock, 0. Mason, G. S. 
Whitney, I. M. Murdock, R. Harris, Rev. T. B. Treadwell and Rev. 
Mr. Marvin. The two latter spoke from the top of the piazza in front 
of Capt. Murdock's store. All the speeches were brief and to the point. 
It was the voice of all, that Winchendon must and would do her part in 
upholding the government of our fathers by suppressing the wicked re- 
bellion. 

SECTION 2. — EFFECT ON THE PUBLIC MIND. 

The effect of the surrender of fort Sumter, on the public mind, did 
not terminate in meetings and resolutions. The sentiment of the peo- 
ple took shape, at once, in raising money and volunteers, and by all 
measures by which anything could be done for the good of the great 
cause. The young men, especially, were urgent to take the field. The 
first effort was to raise a company in the town, but as there were im- 
pediments to success in this attempt, some, in their ardor to be in the 
field, went to other places, and offered themselves as soldiers. Sever- 
al made a provisional arrangement with a company in Ashburnham ; 
and when that fell through, joined the second regiment of Massachu- 
setts volunteers, under Col. Gordon. In the meantime, meetings of the 
citizens were held for drill in the town hall, and the ladies manifested 
the liveliest interest in the work of enlistment, and the warmest sympa- 
thy with those who " girded on the armor." In public worship on the 
Sabbath, and in all prayer meetings, the cause of the country and the 
welfare of the soldiers, were presented at the throne of divine grace. 
The movement assumed the character of a sacred contest, a "war of the 
Lord." 

SECTION 3. — ACTION OF THE TOWN. 

While the people were thus pressing forward, in an informal way, the 
town was preparing for organized action. The first town meeting was 
held on the 27th of April. One article in the warrant was in these 
words : 



HISTORY OF WINCHENBON. 483 

" To see what action the town will take at this alarming crisis of the coun- 
try, in regard to the raising of a military company, to assist in the suppression 
of Rebellion, Insurrection or Invasion." 

Giles H. Whitney, Esq., was chosen Moderator. A committee of 
five was appointed by the chair, to recommend the appropriation of a 
certain sum of money for the purpose of sustaining a military company, 
to act in the present crisis, -and also to recommend some measures cal- 
culated to encourage the forming of such a company. 0. Mason, H. 
0. Clark, Sidney Fairbank, Seth Tucker and John H. Fairbank were 
appointed. The committee soon reported, recommending ! 

"That the town appropriate a sum not exceeding $5,000 for the purpose 
specified above. 

That we guarantee to all persons volunteering to form said company, who 
are able-bodied, and found to answer the requirements of the commander-in- 
chief: first, a suitable uniform; second, a good revolver ; third, eight dollars 
per month, in addition to the pay from government, for the time the company 
is absent in the service of the country. 

Those who enlist and are suitable for service, one dollar a day for every day 
they are drilled, for a term of time not exceeding one month. 

If a full company cannot be raised in this town, the same guaranty be made 
to any number of citizens not less than twenty-five, who shall join with any 
neighboring town in making up a fall company. 

Also, that all between eighteen and twenty-five, meet at the town hall, ev- 
ery Saturday afternoon at two o'clock, for the purpose of drill." 

At the same time, Sidney Fairbanks, Orlando Mason and Baxter D. 
Whitney, were chosen a committee to take in charge the raising a vol- 
unteer militia company in this town. This committee reported to a sub- 
sequent meeting that a company could not be raised ; but perhaps a 
company could be raised in Winchendon and Gardner. 

SECTION 4. SYMPATHY WITH THE SOLDIERS. 

The effort to form a company here failed ; and no arrangement was 
effected with the soldiers of other towns. But the spirit of the young 
men wis up, and they sought connection with companies and regiments 
elsewhere. Among the first to enlist were the following, viz: Theodore 
K. Parker, Edwin A. Pollard, J. Hervey Taylor, Harrison A. Crocker, 
George II. Boston, Henry S. Pierce, Frederick Maynard, George A. 



484 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 

Bruce, Charles F. Pope, Isaac Hartley and Henry Partridge. Some 
if not all of these, at first joined a company in Ashburnham ; but soon 
left it, and became members of Co. D, Capt. Savage, in the Second Reg- 
iment, under command of Col. Gordon. Much interest in these young 
pioneers was felt by all — men, women and children. They were re- 
garded as the advance guard of the town, and the hopes and prayers, 
as well as fears and anxieties of the people, went with them. The fol- 
lowing letter is inserted here at length, because it expressed the gen- 
eral thought and sympathy of the community at the time. It will al- 
so furnish some interesting facts in regard to the action of individuals 
and societies in behalf of the soldiers. 

Winchendon, May 27, 1861. 

To Messrs. Parker, Pollard, Taylor, Crocker, Boston, Pierce, Maynard, 
Bruce, Pope, Hadley, and any others, ivho may be members oj Col. Gor- 
don's regiment, from this town : 

Gentlemen and Friends : — 

I have felt a very strong desire to visit you iu your camp at 
West Roxbury, before you leave for the seat of war. But as I cannot do thi3, 
I yield to the request of others, and to the impulses of my own heart, in writ- 
ing yon a letter, which I trust you will receive as coming from a friend, who 
respects and honors you for enlisting in this necessary and sacred war, and 
who earnestly desires your highest welfare. 

While conversing with Dea. Parker, on Saturday, in regard to addressing 
this letter to you, it seemed to me that before doing so, an effort ought to be 
made to see if our citizens would not do something to show their interest in you, 
who are to be our brave representatives in the field of strife. Accordingly, 
notice was given in Church, yesterday, that a prayer-meeting would be held 
in the Congregational Lecture Room, at half-past five, in behalf of our coun. 
try, and especially of the young soldiers who belong to this town, and it was 
stated that measures would be proposed for raising a contribution in their be- 
half. 

At the appointed time, there was a full meeting, composed of citizens of va- 
rious denominations, and it was a season of great interest and solemnity. Ear- 
nest prayers were offered that you, our young fellow-townsmen, might be faith- 
ful and courageous in all military duties ; that God would shield you in the 
day of battle, and that you all might be led to put your personal trust in the 
Lord Jesus Christ. 

The following resolutions were then read and unanimously adopted, after 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 485 

remarks by Dr. Godding, Dea. Butler, Dea. Parker, Messrs. G. S. Whitney, 
0. Mason, H. 0. Clark, J. H. Fairbank, Harvey Wyrnan and myself. 

"Resolved, That we honor the young men, our fellow-townsmen, who have 
gone forth from among us, to engage in the war that has been forced upon us 
by the enemies of freedom. 

Resolved, That as a proof of our sympathy, we will raise a subscription in 
their behalf as a partial remuneration for the expenses they have already in- 
curred ; that they may be able, in some measure, to mitigate the rough hard- 
ships of the camp. 

Resolved, That we will remember them when we invoke the blessings of 
Heaven on ourselves, and pray that God would ever have them in his holy 
keeping. 

Resolved, That Messrs. II. 0. Clark, Harvey Wyrnan, J. H. Fairbank, 
G. B. Parker and Nelson Wyrnan, be a committee to collect funds, to be ap- 
propriated as follows, viz : five dollars to be given to each of the soldiers, and 
the remainder — ten dollars for each, more or less, — to be put into a common 
fund and deposited with some officer of the regiment who may be designated 
by our volunteers, and who shall disburse the same as their wants may require. 

Resolved, That the volunteers be desired to make known their wants, as 
they may arise hereafter, to the above committee, and that they may be assured 
that these will be promptly attended to by their friends at home. 

Resolved, That Dea. G. B. Parker be hereby recpaested to visit camp An- 
drew, and convey to our friends, the volunteers, the money which shall be 
raised, and whatever other articles may be sent by him, at our expense." 

These resolutions were passed with an earnestness which would have cheered 
you if you had been present, and I believe they express the general feeling of 
the town. Immediately after the close of the meeting, the committee entered 
on their work, and received twenty-six dollars on the spot. They have con- 
tinued their exertions to-day, with the following result. 

As the people were passing out, several young ladies, recently members of 
the High School, asked me if it was too late for them to do something. I 
told them it was not, and that if they would prepare some handkerchiefs, tow- 
els, and articles of that sort, I presumed they would be kindly received. 
Whereupon they made their plans, and this morning, they have made up the 
package of articles which Dea. Parker will deliver to you. They would glad- 
ly do more, but the time is short, and they do not know your wants. I need 
not mention their names, because all the girls in the town participate in the 
feelings which have prompted those whose busy fingers have prepared this- 
package. 



488 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 

I ought to mention that some weeks since, the ladies of tbe Methodist So- 
ciety voted to work in behalf of the soldiers, when there should be a call upon 
them, and also that the Ladies' Benevolent Society of the Orthodox Church, at 
their last meeting, passed a similar vote ; but as they did not know of your 
plans before your leaving home, nothing could be done. I may add that the 
latter Society purchased the articles sent herewith, and that the young ladies 
prepared them for use. 

These facts, gentlemen, are detailed at such length, that you may be as- 
sured of the deep and universal sympathy of the people of the town in you 
as the soldiers who have gone forth to represent us in the great contest which 
has been so wickedly brought upon our beloved country. We feel that you 
are going to engage in a war for government against revolution and anarchy, 
for freedom against slavery, for civilization against barbarism, and for the 
christian religion in opposition to a religion of caste. It is a holy war to which 
we are imperatively called by the providence of God, and we want you to en- 
ter into it, not rashly, not with the spirit of bloodshed and plunder, but as the 
friends of good government, and the servants of the Most High. 

Thinking you may have leisure moments for reading, we have requested 
Dea. Parker to call at the book-store of the Tract Society in Boston, and pro- 
cure a quantitiy of the books which have been expressly prepared for the sol- 
diers, and which are highly approved by Pros. Lincoln, Sec'y Cameron and 
Gen. Scott. We hope that you will read these, as well as the Holy Bible, 
because we believe that the truth of God, if heartily received, will not only 
render } r ou more valiant in the field, but will make you wise unto salvation. 

I know it will not pain you to hear that earnest prayers are offered in your 
behalf, in all our meetings ; that you are affectionately remembered when fam- 
ilies bow around the family altar, and that many men and women seek the 
divine blessing for you when they are alone with God. 

I need not say that I have had a strong interest in you all, from the begin- 
ning of the effort made to raise a company in this town. Your disappoint- 
ment was keenly felt by me. My heart prompts me to take the field with 
you, if that course were for the best. But as it is not for me be to with you in 
person, I shall follow you, step by step, in spirit. I shall contemplate you as 
faithful in all the duties of the camp; temperate in all your habits; attentive 
to all the religious services of the Chaplain, and stout of heart in the field of 
bloody strife. I shall pray for you, that you may all, at once, give up your- 
selves to Jesus Christ, to be his servants ; that you may have true repentance 
for your sins ; that you may be ready for death at any moment, through faith 
in him who died to save all who love him ; and that you may have the bles- 
sing of the Lord of Hosts in all your labors and sufferings in the defence of 
our glorious Union. 



HISTORY OP WINCHENDON. 487 

I shall be glad to greet you when you return from the war, if God shall 
grant us that happiness ; but if you never return, I assure you that your mem- 
ories will be cherished, and your names shall be held in lasting honor." 

The articles above specified, were gratefully received by the soldiers, 
not merely on account of their value, but chiefly because they evinced 
the esteem and approbation of the fair donors. Before the regiment 
left for the seat of war, most of the above named soldiers came home to 
take leave of their friends. Two of them, in behalf of the whole num- 
ber, called on the writer of the letter, and expressed their gratitude and 
that of their comrades, for the gifts and the words of cheer which they 
had received. One of these was Mr. Parker, who entered the service 
a private, and came out, after the triumphant march of Sherman, a cap- 
tain ; the other was Mr. Maynard, who fell dead on the second day of 
the battle at Gettysburg, in consequence of his dauntless courage, which 
impelled him to attack the assailants in front of the line. No braver 
m^n. fell on that decisive day. The soldiers whose names have been 
mentioned above, with perhaps one exception, did good service. Far- 
ther particulars respecting them will be given in subsequent pages. 

The following entered' the service in June of this year, for the term 
of three years. William S. Hersey, John Taylor, William T. Wells, 
joined Co. C, Sixteenth Regiment, Capt. L. G. King. 

SECTION 5. — VOLUNTEERING. 

On the fourth of July, 1861, a town meeting was held, Dea. John 
Cutter being Moderator. The town voted : 

" That the Selectmen be instructed to carry out the provisions of chapter 
222 of the the Acts of 1861." 

The 222d chapter relates to " aid of the families of volunteers," &c. 
As it promoted volunteering, this is the proper place to cite one of its 
Sections. It reads as follows : 

" Sect. 1. Any town or city may raise money by taxation, and, if neces- 
sary, apply the same, under the direction of their selectmen, or mayor and 
aldermen, or city council, for the aid of the wife, and of the children under 
sixteen years of age, of any one of their inhabitants, who, as a member of the 
volunteer militia of this State, may have been mustered into or enlisted in the 
sendee of the United States, and for each parent, brother or sister or child, 
who, at the time oThis enlistment, was dependent on him for support." 



488 



HISTORY OP WINCHENDON. 



At a town meeting held on the 14th of September, Calvin R. Whit- 
man being in the chair, it was voted : 

" That the town authorize the Selectmen to pay out of the money raised 
for contingent expenses, to families of volunteers, the following suras : one 
dollar per week for the wife, and one dollar per week for each child under 
sixteen years of age, that was dependent on said volunteer for support at the 
time of his enlistment ; provided, that the whole sum does not exceed twelve 
dollars per month to any such inhabitant." 

At this time the list of persons liable to enrollment in the Militia of 
Massachusetts, contained four hundred and eighty-three names. The 
names of those who volunteered, with their Co. and Reg't, are here in- 
serted. The first named "enlisted in July, and their term expired in 
July, 1864. In Co. B, Thirteenth Regiment, Capt. Simonds, were 
the following, viz : 



Amablo Beaudry, 
William E. Bailey, 
Robert Bruce, 
Nap. B. Bruce, 
Edwin Chase, 
Andrew Fisher, 
Seth R. Fisher, 
R. E. Hartwell, 
Wm. W. Holman, 
Chas. W. Kendall, 
Edward S. Kendall, 
Oscar A. Kendall, 
Francis H. Loud, 
Henry C. Lowell, 
Winthrop Maynard, 



Joseph B. Matthews, 
Charles F. Pope, 
Andrew Riley, 
Abram Scott, 
Elijah M. Scott, 
Walter D. Scott, 
Stillman Safford, 
Fred. C. "Stewart, 
Charles A. Stevens, 
William E. Taylor, 
George S. Taylor, 
Horace H. Wyman, 
Enoch Whitney, 
Benjamin Whitcomb. ' 



George E. Cook, 
Augustus E. Houghton. 



In Co. A, Twenty-first Regiment, Capt. Bradford, were the follow- 
ing, viz : 

George W. Bradish, 
Jacques Gowing, 
Stephen Miller, 

John Welch was a member of Co. D in the same Regiment. In Co. 
G, same Regiment, were the following volunteers from Winchendon, un- 
der command of Capt. A. A. Walker, viz : 



Patrick Brabston, 
Charles A. Cray ton, 
Andrew J. Flagg, 



Patrick Finton, 
George E. Gorman, 
Henry Haskell, 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 489 



George H. Matthews, 
Jerome L. Stevens, 
Robert N. Shaw, 
James S. Stratton, 
Josiah T. Town, 



Herbert E. "Weston, 
John Wells, 
Edwin Wells, 
Thomas Wells, 
Richard M. Whitney. 



In Co. F, Twenty-first Reg't, was J. Henry Lake ; in Co. I, Eight- 
eenth Reg't, was Albert G. Nutting ; in Co. — , Ninth Regiment, wag 
Martin McCabe ; in Co. L, Seventh Cavalry, was George Thomas ; in 
Sharpshooters, was George L. Norcross ; in Co. C, Follett's Battery, 
was Daniel Norcross, and in Co. C, Twentieth Regiment, was Frank 
Sawtell. 

The following volunteered later in the year, as September, October 
and December, viz: Charles Bates, Otis Rice, Nelson Rice and Den- 
nis Sullivan, in the Third Vt. Regt., whose time expired in September, 
1864 ; Everard Alger, George Brown 2d, Charles H. Stratton, John 
Simonds, Albert H. Whitcomb and Sidney L. Reed, in Co. F, Twen- 
ty-fifth Regiment, whose time expired in October, 1864 ; Jason L. Cof- 
fin, S. Jones Hale and William Welch, in Qo. C, Twenty-fourth Reg- 
iment, Capt. Stevenson, whose term expired in December, 1864. This 
list comprises all, or nearly all, who enlisted in the year 1861. The 
number is eighty. Perhaps others entered the service during this sea- 
son, in some Massachusetts Regiment ; it is certain that some joined 
Regiments in other States. 

The first year of the war will ever be remembered as a year of dis- 
aster. With partial success in some localities, the Union armies gen- 
erally met with defeat. At Bull Run, after almost winning the day, 
our forces were driven from the field in a shameful rout. The unex- 
plained attack at Ball's Bluff was repulsed with great loss to the loyal 
troops. Several of our men, in the Fifteenth Regiment were in this 
fight, and sought safety by crossing the Potomac, in whose dulling wa- 
ters many brave men found their too early grave. Horace H. Wyman 
crossed the river safely, by wading and swimming. He was able 
to help Col. Ward across. Elijah M. Scott was probably either killed on 
the shore, or was lost in the river. There was mourning in some fam- 
ilies, and anxiety in all. Meantime, busy fingers and liberal hearts were 
engaged in providing for the comfort of the soldiers. Supplies of all 
kinds, by various agencies, were*sent to our men ; and the communi, 
cation by letter was frequent. Thus active sympathy was kept up be- 

31 



490 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 

tween those at home and their friends in the field. The expedition of 
Burnside to North Carolina, which met hardship at every step, but which 
was crowned with success, had several Winchendon men, who did their 
duty with fidelity. But it is not possible or desirable, in this brief nar- 
rative, to give a history of the war, or even of the regiments to which 
our men were attached. 

SECTION 6. — RAISING TROOPS IN 1862. 

In the spring of 1862 it became evident that the rebellion could not 
be put down, unless the government should put forth its strength with 
greater energy than had yet characterized its movements. According- 
ly, the President issued a call for three hundred thousand men, and the 
requisition met a hearty response. But as business had recovered from 
the paralysis which had seized it on the breaking out of the rebellion, 
and as wages were higher, the services of the soldiers deserved increased 
pay. Therefore bounties were resorted to, that those who remained at 
home, might in a measure, share the privations of those who took the 
field. A town meeting was held on the 19th of July, 1862, when it 
was voted : 

" That under the recent call from government, for three hundred thousand 
men, this town is called upon to furnish a certain number, in making up the 
quota for this state That this town will pay to such men as will enlist within 
twenty days, to make up the required number, one hundred dollars each, in 
addition to the bounty offered by government, to be paid as follows : $25, as 
soon aS the recruit is sworn into service, and $75 at the expiration of the term 
for which he enlists, with interest from the true date of his being sworn into 
service. And if the recruit prefer, the $75 shall be paid to his family, or to 
those dependent on him for their support, by his order, at such times, and in 
such sums, as the Selectmen may think required. In case of death, what is 
due shall be paid to his heirs. Provided, if any volunteer prefer to receive 
the whole bounty of $100 at the time he is sworn into service, he shall be 
paid accordingly." 

The Treasurer was authorized to borrow a sum not exceeding $5,000, 
to carry out the above vote. At the same time, a committee was cho- 
sen from the different districts, to act as a rallying committee, to assist 
the Selectmen in obtaining recruits : One from each district, and an 
additional one in Nos. 2, 3 and 9, as follows : 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 491 

" District N.o. 1, Charles J. Rice ; 2, Bethuel Ellis, William Murdock ; 
3, A. W. Buttrick, H. 0. Clark ; 4, Nelson D. White ; 5, Seth Maynard ; 
7, Paul Raymond, Jr.; 8, John B. Brown ; 9, James Marsh, Jairus Hast- 
ings ; 10, Reuben Harris ; 11, Minot Patch." 

On the 2d of August, a committee consisting of Alvah Godding, James 
Marsh and Giles H. Whitney, was chosen to provide speakers to address 
the citizens of the town upon the subject of the war. The Hon. A. H. 
Bullock spoke to a large audience, with characteristic force and per- 
suasiveness. " It was reported that this town's quota of forty-eight men 
had been filled by volunteers. 

Another meeting was held on the 16 th of August — Joseph S. Wat- 
son in the chair — when, on motion of Seth Tucker, it was voted : 

" That this town will pay to each man that will enlist, within the next fif- 
teen days, to make up the quota of this town, of the last 300,000 men called 
for by the government, the sum of $100, upon their being sworn into service." 

From this vote it may be inferred that the report in respect to the 
filling of the quota had been premature. However, the men were raised 
in time, and the town kept in advance of the demands made upon it 
throughout the war. The Treasurer was authorized to borrow, under 
the direction of the Selectmen, a sum of money not exceeding $5,000, 
to carry into effect the above vote. About this time a call came for 
nine months men, in consequence of which a town meeting was held on 
the 13th of September, when it was voted : 

" To pay to each volunteer — an inhabitant of this town, — to fill a company 
of nine months men from this town, under the last call of the government for 
300,000 men, the sum of $100, upon their being sworn into the service of the 
United States." 

During this year the amount paid to the families of volunteers, was 
$1,095.65. 

The names of the men who volunteered during the year 1862, un- 
der the calls specified above, with the date when their term of service 
expired, here follows : In Co. I, Twenty-sixth Regiment, whose term 
closed in February, 1865, were the following volunteers from this town, 
viz: 

Baldwin, H."H. f Beal, Madison, 

Ball, Jos. J. T., I Brooks, Levi W., 



492 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDOtf. 



Clough, Lewis V., 
Elford, William, 
Fitzgerald, Michael, 
Gowan, George, 
Harwood, Joseph H. 
Hyde, Alfred, 
Knowlton, George, 
Lawrence, Houghton, 



Parks, El win A., 
Powers, Henry, 
Powers, Warren, 
Prentiss, Samuel H. 
Rich, Jerome T., 
Sawtell, Orcasto L., 
Taylor, Eardley N., 
Town send, William. 



The following were in Co. D, Thirtieth Regiment, and their term ex- 
pired in April, 1865 : David Caswell, Frederick Leland, Alson Nor- 
cross, Charles Samson and John Spalding. In Co. D, Thirty-fourth 
Regiment, was Paul Paro, whose term expired in August, 1865. In 
Co. B, Thirty-second Regiment, was Whitney Thompson ; term expired 
August, 1865. Wesley B. Baldwin enlisted in the Sixth Battery. 

Company D, Thirty-sixth Regiment, whose term expired in August, 
1865, had the following men from, Winchendon, viz : 



Alger, Cyrus, 
Allen, Austin E., 
Bosworth, Henry E., 
Breen, Peter, 
Brooks, George W., 
Brown, Frederick M., 
Byam, Charles F., 
Chamberlain, Stillman F., 
Chase, Daniel W., 
Chase, William D., 
Coburn, M. Van Buren, 
Combs, John L., 
Cutter, John C, 
Damon, Theodore F., 
Demary , John M. , 
Felch, Samuel C, 
Fisher, C. B., 
Foskett, Liberty W., 
Foskett, Wellington, 
French, AdamE., 
Gilman, Jeremiah, 
Godding, Edward, 



Hale, Livesey B., . 
Hayden, Charles W., 
Holman, Albert G., 
Hale, S. B., 
Howard, Marcus M., 
Lippit, Joseph, 
Morrill, Oscar, 
Parker, Cornelius G., 
Partridge, Greenwood, 
Perry, Francis D., 
Plummer, George E., 
Powers, Hiram E., 
Rich, J. Munroe, 
Rich, Robert T., 
Sawtell, Alden, 
Smith, William 2d, 
Tatro, Marcus, 
Tenny, James H., 
Warner, Edwin T., 
Whitney, Franklin L., 
Wilder, B. Oliver, 
Williams, Alfred H. 



The following enlisted under the call dated October 7, for three years. 



Bruce, Robert, 
Doyle, Luke, 
Dunn, Isaac J., 



Chiller, Frank, 
Farnum, William S., 
Snow, Henry E. 



Near the close of the year 1862, the Fifty-third Regiment of nine 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 



493 



months men was formed, and left for the Gulf of Mexico, and the re- 
gion of the lower Mississippi. In Co. H of this Regiment, were the 
following men from Winchendon, viz : 



Alger, Edward, 
Baldwin, John, 
Bearaan, William P., 
Bickford, Leander E., 
Bowker, Joseph, 
Bryant, G. Q. A., 
Butt rick, H. Newell, 
Carriel, Almon E., 
Coburn, Charles E., 
Fitzgerald, Patrick, 
Flint, Eleazar, 
Flint, William M., 
Gibson, A. A., 
Gorman, Isaac, 
Handy, Jonathan, 
Harding, Darius H, 
Hartwell, John H., 
Hill, Josiah, 
Hill, Theodore J., 
Houghton, John M , 
Hubbard, Timothy F., 
Kinney, John 0., 



Mitchell, John, 
Moore, Dexter, 
Mosman, Orange, 
McLennan, Donald, 
Nimms, Samuel H., 
Norcross, Alson, 
Norcross, Salmon A., 
Packard, Freeman A. 
Page, George, 
Parks, Georga H., 
Piper, George H., 
Putney Charles, 
Raymond, James A.. 
Reed, Sidney L., 
Smith, William J., 
Stearns, Charles T., 
Sweetzer, Joseph, 
Tatro, Charles, 
Tatro, Lewis, 
Warren, Charles A., 
Wyman, John M. 



Of the men from this town the following died before the close of the 
year 1862; viz : Levi W. Brooks, Theodore F. Damon, G. C. Parker, 
George H. Matthews, Josiah T. Towne, James S. Stratton, Thomas 
Wells, J. Henry Lake, Albert G. Nutting, and perhaps others. The 
Thirty-sixth Regiment was in the battle of Antietam, and our men 
shared m the peril and the victory. Stratton was conspicuous in the 
combats near Newbern, N. €., and fought like a true soldier at Antie- 
tam, where he was killed. Lake was killed at Chantilly, Sept. 27, 
doing his duty. Matthews, equally faithful, was mortally wounded at 
Roanoke, on the 8th of February. Others received wounds in the ser- 
vice. 

The bodies of several of those who had fallen in the field, or had died 
by lingering disease in the camp, were brought home for burial. There 
was a peculiar interest in the funerals, which were largely attended by 
those who sympathized with the bereaved relatives, and who respected 
the heroic dead. Much was done also in sending out supplies to the 



494 HISTORY OP WINCHENDON. 

soldiers, who were always kept in thoughtful remembrance while absent 
at the post of duty and exposure. 

SECTION 7. — RECORD OP 1863. 

At the March meeting it was voted " not to enforce the collection of 
the poll tax assessed upon volunteers in the service, and that where 
the poll tax has been paid, it should be refunded ; " and on the 27th of 
April, it was voted, " that the Selectmen be instructed to render aid to 
all such families of volunteers for which, under any law, the town may 
be reimbursed by the State." This looks, on the face of it, as if the 
money paid to the families of soldiers, cost nothing to the town ; but it 
will be borne in mind, that the town was taxed to enable the State to 
grant the " aid." The action of the State only served to equalize the 
burden throughout the Commonwealth. At this date sixty-five of the 
enrolled militia were in the service of the United States. 

At another meeting held on the 3d of November, the town voted "that 
the Selectmen be instructed to pay and adjust the town's proportion of 
the tax created by virtue of chap. 218 of the Acts of 1863, in accord- 
ance with sec. 9 of said Acts." 

The amount of aid furnished to families of volunteers during the year 
ending December 31, 1863, was $6,420.68. 

After the Fifty-third Regiment sailed from New York for the south- 
west, in January, there was but little volunteering in this town, except 
as returned soldiers re-enlisted. Among those who entered the service 
a second time, were Jaques Gowing, Stephen Miller, Everard Alger, 
John Simonds, Lewis V. Clough, Jerome T. Rich, George H. Parksj 
and it may be others. 

This was a year of mourning in many households. Among those 
killed in battle were the following : Rollins E. Hartwell, a good soldier, 
fell at Cliancellorville, in May. Frederick Maynard sprang at the foe, 
at Gettysburg, and was killed by a ball in his forehead, on the 3d of 
July. Elwin A. Parks was killed at Lafourche, La., on ihe 21st of 
June. Others were killed either in this year or the next ; as Peter 
Breen, S. B. Hale, Alden J. Sawtell. Timothy F. Hubbard was killed 
by the fall of a tree, on the 23d of March. He was sitting in his tent, 
between his friends Bryant and Stearns. He had been reading in the 
Testament, and also a letter from his wife, which was still in his hand, 
while a smile was on his face. The wind was high, a limb was broken 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 495 

from the tree overhead, and came crashing through the tent. It struck 
Hubbard on the head, leaving his friends unharmed. He died in a few 
hours. 

The number who died in the army was large, especially of those be- 
longing to the Fifty-third Regiment. Edward Alger died on the 19th 
of July ; H. N. Buttrick, May 18 ; John Baldwin, May 2 ; D. H. 
Harding, August 3 ; Josiah Hill, July 19 ; Theodore J. Hill, June 25 ; 
D. McCIennan, July 2 ; Charles Putney, August 24 ; James A. Ray- 
mond, February 19 ; William J. Smith, March 26 ; John M. Wyman, 
May 20. Members of other Regiments died at the following dates : 
George E. Plummer, November 16 ; Hiram E. Powers, September 23 ; 
George Knowlton, May ; Leander E. Bickford died at home, May 18. 
Probably others died this year. 

The liberality of the citizens in raising money and sending out sup- 
plies to their friends in the field was praiseworthy. Besides, contribu- 
tions were frequently made to the Sanitary and Christian Commissions, 
in promoting the same object. The amount given in these and other 
ways, will be summed up in another place. 

Under the call for nine months men, as might have been related in 
the record of the preceding year, a strong effort was made to form a 
Winchendon company. As the Regiment to which it belonged did not 
sail until the beginning of this year, it is not out of place to refer to the 
subject in connection with this year's events. By a union with men 
from Hubbardston and Warwick, and a few from Phillipston, a Com- 
pany was formed which was called the Winchendon Company. Half 
or more of the members were from this town. J. B. Sawyer was cho- 
sen captain, and A. A. Gibson, first lieutenant. Several of the non- 
commissioned officers belonged here, so that Co. H was mainly officered 
by Winchendon men, and the interest and pride of the citizens were 
enlisted in its fortunes. But it so happened that its commissioned of- 
ficers, through all the time of service, were all from other towns. Capt. 
Sawyer resigned, and Lieut. Lyman Woodward of Hubbardston, was 
chosen in his place. Mr. Gibson was chosen first lieutenant, and then 
resigned, when George E. Priest of Watertown, was chosen. Russell 
Carruth of Phillipston, became second lieutenant. The first Serjeant 
was Oren Marcan of Hubbardston ,but on account of his ill health, the 
duties were performed by Charles T. Stearns, seconjd serjeant. This 



496 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 

result was the source of regret, but it was mitigated by the fact that 
the officers were competent, and had the confidence of the men. The 
company went into camp at Groton Junction, in October, 1862 ; sailed 
for New York on the last of November, and after a tedious delay, in 
cold and wet, in that city, embarked, early in January, 1863, onboard 
the Mississippi, for the Gulf of Mexico. There was however so much 
sickness among the men, it was deemed prudent to put them on shore. 
In about a fortnight, that is, on the 16th of January, the Regiment 
shipped in the steamer Continental for New Orleans. They had a rough 
passage, in which they suffered much from storms of wind and rain, as 
well as from fire and sickness, in close quarters, but reached New Or- 
leans on the last day of January. From that day, till they started for 
home, via the Mississippi, and the northern railroads, the company was 
in constant service, and took part in several conflicts. They had the 
pleasure of seeing Port Hudson fall on the 8th of July. In the siege, 
Co. H, in common with the Regiment, was exposed to imminent peril, 
and rendered efficient service under fire ; but lost not a single man in 
action. 

The government being in need of more troops, and the volunteers 
coming in slowly, resort was had to conscription. An Act was passed 
by Congress for recruiting the forces of the United States, and a new 
enrollment of men liable to do military duty, was ordered. The enroll- 
ing officer for Winchendon was Hon. Giles H. Whitney. The enroll- 
ment wa3 ordered for July 1, 1863. The enrolled men were divided 
into two classes. The first included all between twenty and thirty-five 
years, and the unmarried men and widowers between thirty-five and for- 
ty-five. The second class comprised the married men who were more 
than thirty-five but under forty-five years of age. The number required 
of Winchendon was eighty-three. Of these, only one man went into the 
service,|viz : Sidney N. Smith. Twenty-four others were found, on 
examination, to be qualified, but they paid the commutation fee of #300, 
and were not required to take the field. The remainder, being fifty- 
eight, were aliens, or disabled, or had relations dependent on them, and 
so were not liable to do military duty under the call. The following 
are the names of those who paid the required $300. Some of them 
found it difficult to raise the money and they deserve due credit, because 
the fee was their direct contribution for the preservation of their country. 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 497 



Adams, Walter R., 
Aldrich, Marcus, 
Baldwin, Marcus M., 
Brown, Frederic P., 
Childs, Andrew A., 
Dray, Edward, 
Dunn, Josiah J., 
Hay ward, Charles B., 
Kemp, Horatio J., 
Nutting, Wm. H., 
Plummer, Charles W., 
Parks, Wm. M., 



Parker, Samuel W., 
Rice, Charles J., 
Robbins, Amos D., 
Shaler, Adam M., 
Sibley, Charles, 
Sibley, Delano H., 
Stevens, Charles A., 
Streeter, A. W., 
Sullivan, Patrick', 
Wilson, Edward E., 
Wilson, Milton A., 
Woodward, Amos. 



Under the call of October 17, 1863, the following men enlisted, viz : 
Robert Bruce, Luke Doyle, Isaac J. Dunn, Frank Chiller, Wm. 0. 
Farnum, and Henry E. Snow. Farnum was not accepted, and Snow 
ran off, leaving four to enter the service. 

SECTION 8. — RECRUITING IN 1864. 

At the annual town meeting, March 7, 1864, it was voted to raise 
$2000, State aid, for the families of volunteers. 

Meetings of citizens were held in April, May and June, to raise money 
by subscription, with which to procure men, — residents or otherwise, — 
to fill out the quota of the town. This statement explains the following 
action of the town. 

At a regular town meeting held on the 25th of April, it was voted 
" to raise $4,100, to be applied, under the direction of the Selectmen, 
in reimbursing individuals for money already contributed and paid, in 
aid of, and for the purpose of procuring its proportion of the quota of 
volunteers in the military service called for from this Commonwealth, 
under the order of the President of the United States, dated October 
17, 1863, and February 1, 1864 ; and that the money be assessed up- 
on the polls and estates of the inhabitants and non-residents of the town, 
and paid into the treasury as other taxes are paid." 

On the 30th of July the town instructed the treasurer " to borrow a 
sum of money not exceeding $7000, to be applied under the direction 
of the Selectmen, to pay one hundred and twenty-five dollars for each 
man applied to the quota of the town since March 1, 1864." 

The war expenses for the year 1864, were $9,677.62. 

The greater part of the soldiers secured this year, were procured 
through brokers, at considerable expense. It is impossible to state ex- 



498 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 

actly how many men were obtained, or what was paid for each, as no 
record was kept by the town, and the papers of committees are in a 
chaotic state. The raising of money, and the procuring of men, were 
done by committees chosen at meetings of the citizens. The money 
raised thus by subscription, was afterwards refunded by the town, ex- 
cept about $5,000.00. The men were not obtained at uniform prices. 

One lot of twenty cost $95.00 per man, or $1900.00 ; four others 
cost*$110.00 each, or $440.00. Some cost $125.00, and others still 
$250.00, or more. All possible efforts to secure accuracy have been 
made ; the results as to men and money raised to obtain them, will be 
given on a subsequent page. 

It should be stated that the meetings held in the spring and early 
summer of 1864, were frequent, and the committees chosen were effi- 
cient. These meetings were presided over at different times by Har- 
vey Wyman, O. Mason, and Giles H. Whitney. John D. Howard wa 
Secretary, and he has kindly shown me the records of the proceedings. 
The committee men chosen at different times to carry out the designs 
of the meetings, were Orlando Mason, Bethuel Ellis, John H. Fair- 
banks, James Marsh, G. W. Converse, Charles A. Loud, George M. 
Whitney, Archus S. Kimball, William H. Grant, John O. Kinney, 
Levi M. Parks, A. H. Britton, C. J. Bryant, and George B. Ray- 
mond. Mr. Converse acted as treasurer for receiving subscriptions. 
At a citizens' meeting held about this time, — date not recorded, — the 
following report was made by a committee. 

"Your committee recommend that each enrolled man pay a sum not less 
than fifteen dollars for the purpose of procuring forty-five men, more or less. 
That a subscription be taken up, and a paper be presented to each enrolled 
man, as well as all others, on or before Tuesday evening next. 

They also recommend that the sum of $5,625.00 be raised by taxation, in 
order to secure the above-mentioned forty-five men, provided the like sum be 
raised by subscription. 

Voted to accept and adopt the report." 

It was deemed just to ask the enrolled men for a subscription, and 
one larger than the average on the whole of the citizens, because they 
would thus be released from the necessity of going into the field. 

The number of men recruited, (most of them by the agency of bro- 
kers,) during the year 1864, was not far from fifty. The names 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 499 

of those belonging to this town, with the date of enlistment, &c, here 
follow : George H. Parks, veteran, Dec. 22, 1863, entered Fifty-sev- 
enth Reg't. ; Isaac J. Dunn, January 4, 1864, Thirty-sixth Reg't ; 
Sidney L. Reed, veteran, Jan. 26, Twenty-fifth Reg't. 

The names of the remainder will appear in the full roll of soldiers on 
subsequent pages. The recruiting officer was allowed $25 for each vet- 
eran, and $15 for each new recruit. The sum for the whole list was 
$710.00, for which neither the Selectmen nor the committee ever re- 
ceived anything but their expenses. 

The year 1864 was one of toil and triumph. Sherman made his way 
to Atlanta, and on to the Atlantic coast, fighting and driving back the 
enemy at every step. Grant led his invincible hosts through the wil- 
'derness, and put them on the defensive in Richmond and Petersburg. 
Thomas annihilated the army of Hood at Nashville. Everywhere on 
the sea as well as on the land, our forces were victorious. In all these 
successes our citizens felt the deepest patriotic interest; in some of them 
the interest was personal also, because our men were engaged in them. 
Our neighbors and friends endured the hardships of war. Some were 
wounded ; some died of disease, and some were killed in battle. Hub- 
bard H. Baldwin was killed in action on the 19th of September, and 
Adam E. French on the 19th of June. Franklin L. Whitney was killed 
in the same month. These and others, the date of whose death is not 
ascertained, fell in the " high places of the field." George H. Parks 
died at Annapolis, on the 19th of September. He was a good boy, and 
a noble young man. An only son, it was hard to give him up, but his 
sense of duty impelled him to enlist, at first in the Fifty-third Regiment. 
He remained with it in Louisiana till compelled to come home. He was 
discharged in May, 1863, and when he reached home, appeared like a 
corpse that had been a week in the tomb. But he rallied, grew strong, 
and pure love of the cause hurried him again into the field. He joined 
the Fifty-seventh Regiment, Co. A, and was appointed serjeant. For 
awhile he'acted as clerk of Col. Kimball, but preferred the severer duties 
of the soldier. He was in the Wilderness, and endured its terrible 
struggle. The day before the explosion of the mine at Petersburg, on 
the 30th day of July, he wrote home that he was sick, and should go 
into hospital the next day. Instead of that, he was in the assaulting 
column, and owing to the absence of officers, led his company into that 
" hell of horrors." He was taken prisoner, and carried to Danville. 



500 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 

In September he was exchanged and brought to Annapolis. Word came 
that he was doing well, but sickness in a rebel prison had been too much 
for his constitution. He died in a few days. His remains were brought 
home, and amid universal sympathy, were laid in our beautiful ceme- 
tery. What is thus said of Parks, applies with more or less propriety, 
to our other young heroes. They were willing offerings on the altar of 
their beloved country. " They were swifter than eagles, they were 
stronger than lions." 

SECTION 9. — WINCHENDON MEN WHO ENLISTED OUT OF THE STATE. 

Before closing up the story of the war, it seems best to insert the 
names of residents of this town who joined Regiments belonging to oth- 
er States. 

In New Hampshire Regiments were the following : In Co. C, Sec- 
ond Reg't, C. H. Lawrence, John M. Stearns ; in Co. A, Second Reg't, 
Albert R. Bowen, Frederick A. Bowen, Frank Nash, Frank Peirce ; 
in Co. E., Second Reg't, Luther W. Forrest ; in Co. — , Sixth Reg't, 
Almon Nutting ; in Co. I, Third Reg't, John H. Hitchcock ; in Co. K, 
Fifth Reg't, Lorenzo Coburn, George Goodall, Noah Paro ; in Co. — , 
Sixth Reg't, Ambrose Butler, Enoch Nichols ; in Co. — , Ninth Reg't, 
Henry W. Clark. 

In Vermont Regiments were the following : In First Cavalry, Jo- 
seph Hyatt ; in Co. — , Twenty-fourth Reg't, Wm. W. Peirce ; in 
Co. — , Seventh Reg't, W. H. H. Putnam. 

The following were in Connecticut Regiments : In Co. — , First Reg't, 
E. W. Stocking, George Taylor ; in Co. — , Fourth Reg't, Clinton D. 
Towns. 

The following men were in New York Regiments : In the One Hun- 
dred Seventh Reg't, L. J. Wilkinson, Walter Wilkinson ; in the Nine- 
ty-ninth Reg't, C. F. Brown, A. E. French, Samuel J. Lowell. Be- 
sides these, George Thomas was, for some time, in the New York Cav- 
alry. 

Thomas Mitchell was a member of Co. M, Third Reg't Rhode Island 
Heavy Artillery. 

' SECTION 10. — CLOSE OF THE WAR . 

There was a call for additional troops on the 19th of December, 1864, 
but it was not acted on until the opening of 1865. A "subscription was 
raised to obtain recruits. This was done by assessment, and none were 



HISTOKY OF WINCHENDON. 501 

asked to subscribe more than six dollars, though a few gave more. 
Over two hundred names are in the subscription book, and the amount 
raised was $1122.00 ; but about three-quarters of this was refunded by 
the town, leaving about $270.00 as the real sum obtained by subscrip- 
tion at this time. 

At a town meeting held on the 30th of January, 1865, it was voted 
" that the Treasurer be instructed to borrow a sufficient sum of money, 
to be applied, under the direction of the Selectmen, to pay a bounty 
not exceeding $125.00 to each volunteer necessary to fill the quota of 
this town under the call of December 19, 1864." And on the 6th of 
March, it was voted " to raise money and appropriate the same for the 
relief of the families and dependents of volunteers." This is the last 
vote of the town in relation to raising soldiers for the war. The work 
of recruiting was done, and the army and navy were giving the finish- 
ing stroke to the rebellion. Terry and Porter took fort Fisher early 
in the year ; Sherman marched north through the Carolinas ; Grant 
pounded his way into Richmond and Petersburg, and the wicked rebell- 
ion was subdued. Our soldiers who were yet in the field soon returned 
home, and there was general rejoicing. Before closing this section, 
however, it should be said that our quota had been readily filled at 
every call ; and generally the town was in advance of the demands of 
the government. Every requisition had been promptly and cheerfully 
met ; money had been raised freely ; and the town paid its way, with- 
out incurring large debts. It was wisely judged that it was easier to 
pay when gold was at 280, than when paper should approximate to par 
value. It is to the credit of the town that all the heavy burdens of the 
war were borne without stinting the appropriations for other objects ex- 
cept for a year or two. In 1862, the appropriation for schools was 
diminished, but by reason of the depression of wages, the schools were 
in session nearly up to the average time. By degrees the sums raised 
for schools and other purposes, were brought up to the usual standard, 
and before the Avar closed, the annual sum for schools was -increased 
more than twenty-five per cent. 

SECTION 11. — A DAY OF REJOICING. 

News of the capture of Richmond aud Petersburg reached town on 
the third of April, 1865. This was rightly, considered the harbinger 
of peace, and the pledge of the speedy collapse of the rebellion. The 



502 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 

next clay, the fourth of April, was given up to general rejoicing. There 
was a procession of great length. The bells were rung, cannon were 
fired, and happy congratulations were exchanged whenever people met 
in the streets. 

There was a meeting in the town hall, which was attended by a large 
crowd. John H. Fairbanks was in the chair. Brief, spirited, pointed 
speeches were made by Hon. Giles H. Whitney, Rev. Messrs. Marvin, 
Best and Litchfield, and Messrs. H. Wyman, 0. Mason, G. S. Whit- 
ney and Reuben Harris. All were applauded to the echo, because 
the speakers expressed what was in all hearts. 

After the meeting was over, there was a novel exhibition in the 
streets, which, while it provoked laughter, was suggestive of grave 
thoughts, and indicative of a mighty revolution accomplished. An 
elegant coach, drawn by two spirited horses, with a white driver, passed 
along, and inside was seen a colored gentleman, painted up for the oc- 
casion, riding in state. Yes, the war was over ; the rebellion was ended, 
substantially. Slavery was dead ; a new civilization was begun at the 
South ; our country was becoming homogeneous, and men could ride 
in coaches without regard to race or color. Cheers greeted this little 
pantomime. Volumes of meaning were crowded into it, and the whole 
revolution was seen at a glance. With a touch of burlesque it mingled 
the gravest truth, and betokened the most marvelous progress. In the 
evening there was a general illumination, and the Village was in a blaze 
of light from end to end. 

On the 10th of April, word came flashing over tho wires, that Lee 
had surrendered the army of Virginia, at Appomattox, on the morning 
of the ninth. The rejoicing broke out anew. Flags were raised, sa- 
lutes were fired, and the bells were rung right merrily. . On the follow- 
ing Sabbath, thanksgivings to the Lord of Hosts were offered up in all 
our churches. 

SECTION 12. — COST OF THE WAR. 

The pecuniary cost of the war of freedom and nationality, to the peo- 
ple of Winchendon, is to be found by adding together the appropriations 
made by the town for war purposes, and for " aid" to the soldiers' fam- 
ilies ; the subscriptions of individuals to pay bounties, and furnish arms 
to the soldiers ; the gifts of societies and personal friends, to provide 
comforts for the men ; and the contributions to the Sanitary and the 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 503 

Christian Commissions. Exactness cannot be attained in jixing the 
amount, but enough can be given to confer lasting honor upon the town. 

The war expenses of the town are recorded, from year to year, in the 
annual reports of the Selectmen and Town Treasurer. Large bounties 
were paid to some of the soldiers. In some cases, these were raised by 
subscription ; but the town refunded the sums thus raised, to a great 
extent. Several thousond dollars were given to soldiers' families, year 
by year, called " State aid." As this was refunded by the State, some 
may hastily infer that the State aid cost nothing to the town. But the 
town was taxed, in common with all the towns and cities in the Com- 
monwealth, to raise the money by which the State aid was refunded to 
the towns. As Winchendon is about an average town, in the matter 
of taxation, the amount paid to soldiers' families was about equivalent 
to what was received from the State Treasury. It will be safe, there- 
fore, to give the amount paid out to families, by the town Treasurer, as 
the real expense of the town for that object. And in the matter of boun- 
ties, the sums voted in advance, are not to be taken, but the sums ac- 
tually paid, as given in the Treasurer's report. Each report was made 
at the March meeting, and related to the year closing on the last day 
of the preceding December. 

The expense in 1861 was all for State aid, and amounted to $1,095.65. 

The expenses of the year 1862, were as follows : Bounties to eighty- 
nine men, at $100 each man, $8,900.00 ; State aid, $4,707.60 ; Sun- 
dries, $184.05. Amount for the year, $13,791.65. 

Expenses of the year 1863 : Bounties for volunteers, $4,615.16 ; 
State aid, $6,341.56 ; Sundries, $83.12. Amount for the year, $11 - 
039.84. J ' 

^ Expenses for the year 1864 : Bounties for volunteers, $7,250.00 ; 
State aid, $4,315.45; reimbursement of subscriptions, $4,100.00; 
Sundries, $360.17. Amount for 1864, $16,025.62. 

Expenses in the year 1865: State aid, $1,489.06 ; Sundries, $7.75. 
Besides this, there were nearly $300.00 of a subscription not refunded. 
Amount for the year, $1,796.81. The total amount during the war, 
was $43,749.12. To this must be added about $5,000 of another sub- 
scription, making the amount $48,749.12. The commutation money 
paid by twenty-four men, at one time, at $300, each, amounted to $7,200. 

The amoimt given by individuals to furnish arms to the soldiers, and 
as private bounties, can never be ascertained. Several of the first to 



504 HISTORY OP WINCHENDON. 

enlist, were provided with revolvers. Individuals, at different times, 
added to the bounties offered by the town, state or nation. As one 
man, — Mr. Nelson D. White — gave not far from $300 in this way, it 
will be perfectly safe to set down the amount contributed for this pur- 
pose, as not less then $1000. The amount thus far is very near $56,- 
949.12. 

All the soldiers had personal friends and relatives, who sent aid in 
various forms. The aggregate was large ; but of this no record can be 
made, since there are no means of approximating to accuracy. More- 
over, the remains of many soldiers were brought home and buried, at 
great expense. Of this expense, no account can be rendered. 

Many visited the army' at various times, and never went empty-hand- 
ed. The sums contributed in this way were large, but there is no means 
of ascertaining the amount. 

The young ladies in the North Congregational Church, the ladies in 
the Methodist Church, and the ladies in the Centre, and a Society of 
ladies in Waterville, of which, in successive years, Mrs. C. P. Carpen- 
ter and Mrs. Wm. L. Woodcock were Presidents, and Mrs. A. D. Hast- 
ings and Mrs. George Brooks, Secretary and Treasurer, did much to 
relieve the wants of their friends in the field. A Union Society of la- 
dies from different sections of the town, met often in the town hall, and 
by their labor, and the sums collected by them, and the avails of lec- 
tures, they gathered and remitted supplies of great value to the sol- 
diers, either directly, or through the Sanitary and Christian Cominis- 
sions, or the Boston Tract Society. Of this Society, Mrs. Rev, B. F. 
Clarke and Mrs. Jacob Taylor were Presidents, Mrs. Elisha Murdoek, 
Treasurer, and Mrs. William Brown, Secretary. The Vice Presidents 
were Mrs. O. Chamberlain, C. H. Marvin, Mary W. Godding, W. L. 
Woodcock, John Cutter, E. H. Townsend, George Brown, and O. Ma- 
son. There was a numerous list of Directresses and Collectors. The 
Society was very efficient. The meetings were always opened with 
prayer, either by a clergyman or by a member. The amount raised, 
and forwarded, estimated in money, was $1,079.39. The amount sent 
by the Waterville Society was not less than $150.00. From the Cen- 
tre came about $75.00. Total, $1,304.39. 

In addition, collections were taken up in the North Congregational 
Church, on several occasions, not included in the above recital. Pass- 
ing over contributions for Kansas sufferers, in 1861, to the amount of 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 505 

$50.89, and aid for the freedmen, at various times, amounting to $205.- 
25, this Church gave in 1862, $25.00 for aid of soldiers ; in 1863, 
$45.25, through the Christian Commission, and $30.00 through the 
Tract Society ; in 1861, $90.00 through the Sanitary Commission, and 
through the Christian Commission, $156.33 ; in 1865, $35.00 through 
the Sanitary Commission, and $70.68. The amount is $352.26. 

In May, 1864, a meeting was held in the town hall, ^icl a commit- 
tee was chosen to " collect funds for the benefit of the soldiers from this 
town in the field, and for the Christian Commission." For the soldiers 
they collected $521.00, besides stores, and for the Commission, $98.50. 
Total. $620.00. O. Mason, John H. Fairbank and H. E. Weston were 
chosen a sub-committee to disburse the fund. Mr. Weston was appoint- 
ed treasurer. Of this sum, $389.83 were given to soldiers in the field, 
or to aid their friends at home. The balance, $230.17, is in the Savings 
Bank, and may be used as " aid" to soldiers, or for a monument. 

The amount raised by the town and by subscription, 
as bounties, state aid, &c, for war purposes was $55,949.12 

Private bounties, not less than 1,000.00 

Contributions by ladies' societies, citizens, churches, &<?., 2,276.65 



Total, $59,225.77. 

SECTION 13. — NUMBER OF SOLDIERS, CASUALTIES, &C. 

The number of soldiers which Winchendon was required to furnish, 
throu h the war, was between three hundred and seventy and three hun- 
dred and eighty. The exact number, after inquiry in every quarter, 
cannot be ascertained. The number of men who went into the field, 
from this town, in Massachusetts regiments, and in the regular army, 
including volunteers and drafted men, was — very nearly — two hundred 
and fifty-five. 

Th-3 number who re-enlisted, and were therefore counted twice, was 
about twenty. 

The number of colored recruits, entered in the name of some citizen 
of Wi ichendon, was four. 

The number who joined regiments of other states, some if not all of 
whom were counted in the quota of this town, was twenty-seven. 

Th< • number obtained through the intervention of brokers was forty-two. 

The number of Massachusetts men in the navy who were counted in 



506 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 

this town's quota, was about sixteen. The whole number is three hun- 
dred and eighty-eight. 

In addition it should be said that Roswell M. Shurtleff, whose home 
was here almost up to the beginning of the war, was first lieutenant and 
adjutant in the Naval Brigade, known as the Ninety-ninth N. Y. Vols. ; 
was wounded and captured while on scouting duty, near Bethel, Va., 
July 9, 1861 ; was returned on parole, Feb. 22, 1862, and was on du- 
ty at Camp Parole, Annapolis, more than a year. 

Corporal Henry Eddy Chase, son of Mr. Archibald Chase, was in 
Battery G, Rhode Island Light Artillery. He was killed instantly, 
October 19, 1864, at the battle of Cedar Run, when Sheridan annihi- 
lated the forces of Early. A letter from his captain speaks of him in 
the highest terms as one who " performed his duty faithfully, and was 
loved by every one." 

Edgar Pitkin, son of Mr. Harry Pitkin, was a native of this town, 
and was educated in our schools. At the outbreak of the war he was 
in a lawyer's office in Burlington, Vt., but he felt an irrepressible de- 
sire to enter the service. He first served as private in the three months 
volunteers ; he then received the appointment of adjutant in the First 
Regiment Vermont Cavalry, and under Gen. Banks, distinguished him- 
self at Orange C. H., Culpepper C. H., and at Winchester. 

Being mustered out of service, he received a good clerkship in the 
treasury office, at Washington, but his heart was in the field, and he 
enlisted in the Fifth U. S. Cavalry, declining to receive a commission 
through political influence, but determined to merit it. He served as 
Serjeant during Gen. Grant's campaign in Va., where he was wounded 
in the ankle. He then took part in the brilliant career of Sheridan, in 
the Shenandoah Valley, where he received a severe wound in the groin. 
As soon as possible he hastened back to -engage in active service but 
died suddenly, on the 19th of February, 1865, at Camp Remount, 
Pleasant Valley, Md. He had been recommended for promotion, and 
would soon have received a commission. He entered the service under 
the impulse of a noble patriotism, which ripened into christian heroism. 

The following are the names of those who were wounded, arranged 
alphabetically, viz : 



Ball, Joseph J. G., 
Chase, Daniel W., 
Clough, Lewis V., 
Crocker, H. A., 



Hyatt, Joseph, 
Matthews, Joseph B., 
Parker, Theo. K., 
Reed, Sidney L., 



HISTORY OP WTNCHENDON. 



507 



Stratton, Charles H., 
Sullivan, D., 
Wells, Wm., T., 



Whitcomb, Benjamin, 
Wilkinson, Leon J., 
Wyman, Horace H. 



The following soldiers died of disease or the hardships of war, either 
at home, in the hospital, or as prisoners, viz : 



Alger, Edward, 
Baldwin, John, 
Baldwin, Wesley B., 
Bickford, Leander E., 
Brabston, Patrick, 
Bradish, George W., 
Brooks, George W., 
Brown, George, 2d, 
Bruce, Robert, 
Buttrick, H. Newell, 
Coburn, Lorenzo, 
Damon, Theodore F., 
Evans, Milo 0., 
Fentoa, Patrick, 
Fisher, C. B., 
Flint, Wm. M., 
Gott, Orlando, 
Harding, Darius H., 
Hill, Josiah, 



Hill, Theodore J., 
Knowlton, George, 
McLennan Donald, 
Norcross, George L., 
Nutting, Albert G. , 
Parker, G. Cornelius, 
Parks, George H., 
Powers, Hiram E., 
Putney, Charles, 
Raymond, James A., 
Samson, Charles, 
Smith, Wm. J., 
Sweetzer, Joseph E., 
Taylor, Eardley N., 
Thomas, George, 
Town, Josiah T., 
Wells, Thomas, 
Wyman, John M. 



Here follow the names of those who were killed or mortally wounded 



Baldwin, Hubbard H., 
Breen, Peter, 
French, Adams E., 
Hale, Samuel B., 
Hartwell, Rollin E., 
Hubbard, Timothy F., 
Lake, J- Henry, 
Maynard, Frederick, 
Matthews, George H. , I 



Norcross, Daniel, 
Parks, Edwin A., 
* Plummer, George E., 
Sawtell, Alden J., 
Scott, Elijah M., 
Stratton, James S., 
Whimey, Franklin L. 
Wilkinson, Walter. 



SECTION 14. — THE NEW ROLL OP HONOR. 

The following pages contain the names, as far as can be ascertained, 
of all who entered the service from this town, whether in Massachusetts 
regiments, or the regiments of other states, in the regular army or the 
navy, including those obtained through the intervention of brokers. 
The names of those who paid commutation, are also inserted. Those ob- 
tained by brokers are at the end of the list. 



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HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 



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HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 519 

SECTION 15. — 4 DAY OF MOURNING. 

The war was ended, virtually, though Johnson had not yet surren- 
dered to Sherman, and Kirby Smith still held out in sullen rebellion 
beyond the Mississippi. By the capitulation of Gen. Lee, on the 9th 
of April, the war for national existence and for the freedom of all the peo. 
pie within the national jurisdiction, was triumphantly closed. The 
loyal part of the nation was filled with rejoicing. Just then an event 
occurred which caused universal horror and mourning. On the even- 
ing of April 14, the wise and good President, Abraham Lincoln, was 
assassinated. After lingering a few hours, in an unconscious state, he 
expired. The sad intelligence reached here early in-the morning while 
he was yet alive. Soon the word came over the wires that he had 
breathed his last breath. The story was told with tremulous lips and 
tearful eyes. A great grief fell upon the people. As the tollin* bell 
sounded out the awful event; all nature seemed in mourning. Sadness 
was on every countenance. 

In the evening, Saturday, April 15, a great meeting was held in the 
town hall. It was a spontaneous gathering of the people, who felt im- 
pelled to sympathize with one another in the universal sorrow. Hon 
Giles H Whitney presided, and in appropriate words, alluded to the 
death of our beloved chief magistrate. Rev. A. P. Marvin read selec- 
tions from the Bible, and offered prayer. Remarks were made by Rev 
Messrs. Best, Litchfield and Marvin, and by Messrs. Reuben Harris 
and Isaac M. Murdock. Historical parallels were referred to in the 
deaths of the great king Henry IV, of France, and the good prince of 
Orange. Solemn dirges were played by the Band. The people hung 
upon the lips of the speakers, as if they could not hear enough about the 
good president. There was the feeling in all hearts as if a personal 
inend had fallen. 

The next day, being the Sabbath, all the houses of worship were 
tastefully draped in mourning, and the services, including music, pray- 
ers and sermons, had pathetic reference to the death of Mr. Lincoln 
The writer, on this day, and on other occasions, was called on to speak 
at eight different times.; Others addressed the people several times, and 
yet there was a desire to hear. 

The funeral of Mr. Lincoln took place at Washington, on the 19th 
of £pril, and by a concerted movement, funeral services were held all 
over the land, on the same day. In this Village, the churches were all 
open at twelve o'clock, M., and were all filled. After prayer, singing 



520 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 

and remarks, in each, the procession started from the Baptist church, 
led by the Band and the Alert Engine Company ; arriving near the 
Congregational Church, the large audience, preceded by the Niagara 
Engine Company, formed in the procession, and all marched to the 
Methodist church, where a large number fell into line, and then proceed- 
ed to the town hall. The committee of arrangements consisted of the 
following gentlemen, viz : Orlando Mason, Baxter D. Whitney, John 
Folsom, L. Wilkinson and Charles Loud. Mr. Mason was chief mar- 
shal, and Messrs. Windsor N. White, James Marsh and William L. 
Woodcock, assistant marshals. Capt. Ephraim Murdockwas president 
of the day. 

Eight hundred persons were crowded into the hall, and many stood 
outside the building. The order of exercises was as follows : 

Beading of the Scriptures, by Rev. A. P. Marvin ; 

Prayer, by Rev. B. F. Clarke ; 

Dirge by the Band ; 

Addresses, by Rev. Edward S. Best, Hon. Giles H. Whitney and 
Mr. Isaac M. Murdock ; 

Singing by the choir ; 

Addresses by Rev. George A. Litchfield and A. P. Marvin ; 

Singing by the choir ; • 

Benediction, by Rev. Mr. Colver ; 

Dirge by the Band. 

Though remarks were offered by so many different speakers, they 
did not repeat each other. The subject seemed exhaustless, and the 
great assembly held together till a late hour, as if bound by a sacred 
spell. The conviction seemed to be general, that while the nation had 
suffered an irreparable loss, still, the God of our fathers, who had sus- 
tained us through a wicked rebellion, would watch over and bless us in 
the future. Then sadly, yet hopefully, the people went to their homes. 
A day never to be forgotten even by the youngest child present, had reach- 
ed its solemn close. And a great epoch in history had been consecra- 
ted by the martyrdom of the wisest and best actor in its memorable 
scenes. 

The following Hymn, composed for the occasion, by Miss N. A. W. 
Priest, — now Mrs. Wakefield — was sung on the occasion, and finds 
here its appropriate place. It was sung by the vast audience, and the 
choir, led by E. S. Merrill, Esq., to the tune " America." 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 521 



FUNERAL HYMN. 

" Oh God forever nigh, 

Who hear'st the mourner's cry, 

Incline thine ear : 
We mourn the nohle dead, 
Our nation's honored head ; 
Come, and thine influence shed, 

Our hearts to cheer. 

For four long, weary years 
Of darkness, doubts and fears, 

He led our way ; 
He taught us faith and hope, 
He shared our bitter cup, 
He bore our banner up 

In clanger's day. 

Now, when the sky grows bright 
With victory's radiant light, 

The nation weeps ; 
Ah ! dreadful was the blow, 
That laid our leader low, 
But while we bend in woe, 

He calmly sleeps. 

Rest sweetly, sainted dust ! 
We will fulfill the trust 

Imposed by thee ; 
The land that holds thy grave, 
The land thou died'st to save, 
Shall never own a slave — 

All shall be free." 



CONCLUSION. 

This chapter is merely an account of what the town did in suppress- 
ing the rebellion, and not a history of the individual soldiers who bore 
a part in that great work. There is no space left for giving such a per- 
sonal history, even if it were desirable to do so in a history of the town. 
But it would be well if a separate volume should be prepared, in which 

33 



522 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 

the story of every soldier who represented this town in the great Avar 
of freedom, should be narrated. The battles fought and the victories 
won by them, in common with their comrades from other States, should 
be recorded, in their honor, and for the credit of the town which sent 
them forth. The volume should contain extracts from letters written 
from the camp and hospital, to friends at home. Letters from officers 
announcing the death of soldiers, would also find a place. If suitable 
encouragement is given, such a work will, without doubt, find an au- 
thor. 

In conclusion, allusion must be made to another, though a kindred 
subject. There should be a monument, not only on paper, but in stone, 
to commemorate the patriotic heroism and devotion of the soldiers of 
Winchendon. In one respect, the town has not yet done all its duty. 
She raised her full quota ; she paid large bounties to the soldiers ; wid- 
ows and orphans, made such by the war, have been generously provid- 
ed for, by public vote, and private benevolence, but the town has nev- 
er done anything directly to honor the soldiers. They had no recep- 
tion on their return, and by no public act has there been a suitable rec- 
ognition of their services. 

It has been suggested by some, that a monument be erected, in some 
suitable place, to commemorate those who died in the war. Others 
have manifested a preference for a Memorial Hall, in which the names 
of the soldiers who fell, should be inscribed on tablets, while the build- 
ing could be used for other purposes. Another method could be taken, 
which would answer the design admirably, and at the same time, meet 
a public want. It is to erect a Memorial Chapel in the Cemetery, of 
suitable proportions, and of enduring granite, on the walls of which 
could be placed marble tablets, containing the names of the wounded ; 
of those who died of disease or wounds ; and of those who were killed 
in the war. In addition, the names of all those who entered the ser- 
vice and came out unharmed, should be inscribed, because they were 
impelled by as noble a spirit, and did as much, amid the hardships of 
the march and the fire and blood of the battle-field, in behalf of the 
country, and of impartial freedom, as they who fell in the " high places 
of the field." 



INDEX OF NAMES. 



■ >•' 



INDEX OF NAMES. 



This Index contains all the names mentioned in the volume, except those in 
the Introduction, and on the following pages, where they are arranged in col- 
umns. See pages 33-35, 40, 43, 53, 89, 91, 101-103, 154, 155, 180, 181, 192-196, 
2G1, 264, 293-297, 320, 346, 361, 362, 374, 375, 377, 385, 386, 410-420, 440, 445- 
479 480 and 490, and the chapter on the War of Freedom. 



-A. 

Adams, Benj., 115, 173, 19V, 19S, 
399. 
" " Jr., 399. 

" John, 119, 121, 256, 292. 
" John Q., 256, 257. 
" Joseph. 230, 307, 401. 
" Oliver, 71, 248,307, 378. 
" Samuel, 80, 119, 120121. 
Aldrich, Amasa, 382. 

" Harrison, 170, 372. 
" S. C, 381. 
Alger, Benjamin, 134, 138. 
" C. C, 141, 201, 214, 305, 

306. 
" David, 230, 237. 
" George, 210, 211, 245, 305, 
369. 
Allen, Charles, 260. 

" Jonas, 38. 
Allyn, George II., 439. 
Arnold, Eber, 407. 
Ashley, W. W., 354. 
Atherton, Dr., 74. 

IB 

Backus, Quiraby S., 438. 
Bacon, Joseph, 124, 126. 
Bailey, Richard, 68. 
Baker, Samuel, 75. 
Balcom, Daniel, 71, 110. 

" Gideon, 186, 253, 360. 

" Lincoln, 216. 
Baldwin, A., 218, 354. 

" Elizabeth, 403. 

" Josiah, 7i. 

" Loammi, 18. 

" Samuel, 103, 398. 

" Samuel, Esq., 427. 
Ball, Phinehas, 210, 240, 245. 
" " Jr., 210. 

" Sullivan B., 2^9. 
Bangs, Elward, 141. 174. 
Barrett, Stephen, 101, 109. 

" Thornton, 69, 105, 117, 
140, 341, 395. 
Bartol,Dr.,356. 
Barton, Bezaleel. 91. 
Barton, Kev. Mr., 324,325. 
Bateman, A. P., 3S0. 
Bates, Rev. Lemuel P., 335, 336. 

" Roger, 71, 89, 102. 
Battles, Peleg, 235. 
Beals & Bowker, 369. 
" Stower, 238. 
" Thomas, 71. 
Beatnan, David, 185, 198, 238. 

" Elisha, 214, 306. 347, 
405. 

" Gamaliel, ig2, 365. 

" Rev. G. Or, 427. 

" Josiah, 101, 136. 



Beaman, William 222, 368, 369, 
371, 372, 390, 395. 
Beckett Rev. Mr., 330. 
Belcher, Gov., 32. 
Belknap, Mrs., 229. 
Bemis, Jason, 74. 
" John, 96-98, 100, 110, 

186, 230. 
" Reuben, 220, 273. 
<; Silas, 101. 
Benjamin, Andrew, 398. 
Bennet, Thomas, Jr., 210. 
Bernard, Gov., 57, 59. 
Berrin, Thomas, 44. 
Berry, Thomas, 36, 38, 40-44J 

47, 364, 429. 
Best, Rev. Edward S., 347. 
Bigelow, Chas. E., 427. 

" Chas. W., 351,366,367. 
" Daniel, 172. 
" Roger, 342, 366. 
" Solomon, 61, 94. 110. 
" Sarah P., 63. 
" Timothy, 173, 275. 
Birney, James G., 259, 260. 
Bixby, Adonijah, 110. 
" Daniel, 57, 61, 62. 
" Jonathau, 68. 
" Levi, 68, 72, 110, 303. 
" Nath'l, 61, 62, 135, 142. 
" Stephen, 303, 406. 
Blodgett, Nathaniel, 48, 53. 
Boardman, Thomas, 34 40, 43. 
Bolland, Benj., 91. 
Bond, William, 277. 
Boaworth, Alpheus. 
" John, 341. 

" Mrs., 45,341. 

" Oliver E., 343. 

Bouton, Rev. Dr., 337. 
Bowdoin, Gov., 109, 111, IIS, 

119. 
Bowers, Rev. Mr.. 353. 
Bowker, Asa, 103.' 
" Luther, 250. 
■• " Mrs. Aaron. 402. 
'" S., 241. 
" Micah, 69. 
Bowman, Thadeus, 76, 89, 97, 
275. 
" T. II., 311. 
Boyce, D., 381. 

Boyp.ton, Benoni, 46, 53, 61, 62, 
135. 
" Daniel, 127, 205. 
" Ephraim, 61, 62. 
" John, 26, 69, 70, 73, 
80-82, 86, 93. 96, 97, 
123, 124, 13(3, 152. 
" Joseph, 26, 68, 97,124, 
126,129,137,141,160. 
" Mrs. Daniel. 229, 



Boynton, Paul, 77, 110,127, 136, 
175, 293, 390. 
" Stephen, 69, 89, 102. 
Brace, Charles L., 214, 215. 
Brackett, Frank A., 226. 
Bradish, James, Sen., 105. 
" Jonas, 69, 245, 303. 
" Jonas, Jr., 210, 253. 
" Robert, Sen., 49, 69, 71 
72, 94, 105, 117, 118, 
440. 
" Samuel, 87, 89, 102. 
Bridge, Benjamin, 421. 

" Francis, 47, 70, 73, 91, 
94, 97, 99, 110, 111, 126: 
" Rev. Josiah, 167. 
" Major John, 172, 173. 
Bnggs, Gov., 257, 260. 
Brigham, Abraham, 101. 
Broadstreet, Joseph, 71. 
Brooks, Joel, 273. 

" Mrs. John A., 399. 
" John, 103.230,231, 235 

245. 
" Levi, 103, 235, 237. 
" Sumner, 343. 
Browne, John K., 226. 
Brown, Albert, 57, 87, 230. 
" Alexander, 119. 
" Amasa, 270. 
" Amos H. 
" Artemas, 428. 
" Asaph, 231, 253. 
" Benjamin, 74, 94, 97. 99, 

117, 127, 136, 138. ' 
" David, 71, 94. 
" Elisha, 87. 89,91. 
" George, 309, 368 , 339. 
" John, 46, 48, 146. 
" John S., 356. 
" Rev. Joseph, 46, 69, 72, 
121. 149, J52, 159, 161, 
163, 165-174, 275, 285, 
303,312, 313, 318,321- 
323, 325, 442. 
" Nathaniel, 71. 
" Samuel, 87, 89, 143, 186, 

230, 252. 
" Sam'l, Jr., 185, 252, 401 . 
" Samuel, 21, 347. 
" Rev. Sam'l W., 402,426. 
" Silas, 402. 
" Thomas, 41, 44, 49, 134. 
" William, Esq., 200, 207 
210, 212-214. 242, 253, 
400, 402. 
" William, 2d, 222, 243 

306, 309. 
" William, son of Samuel, 

2d, 348. 
" William, early settler, 
53, 134, 3(34. 



524 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 



Brown, Wra., son of David, 400. 
" Rev. Mrs, 189,191,319. 
" Mrs. Albert, 430. 
" Mrs. Samuel, 399. 
" Elder, 341. 
Bruce, Daniel T., 253. 
« Dexter, 189, 439. 
" Jonas, 302. 
Bryant, Nathan, 404. 

" Walter G., 404. 
Bullard, Charles, 370. 

" Rev. Malachi, 46, 213, 
338. 
Burbank, J. P. T., 378, 380. 
Burge, Rev. Caleb, 330. 
Burgess, S. A., 422, 
Burke, J. B., 381. 
Burnham, Rev. Amos, 336, 348, 
550. 
" Nathaniel, 46, 61, 135. 
" Reuben, 68. 
" Simeon, 68. 
Burneyman or Borman, John G. 
M., 305. 
" " Chas., 300. 

Burr, Aaron, 104. 

" John, 76, 141, 157, 159. 
Butler,Dea. E.,27, 246, 307,348. 

" Joel, 434. 
Buttrick, A. W., 218. 

O 

Cain, Mr., 189. 
Calhoun, JohnC , 256. 
Cambridge, Mr., 365. 

'^apron, , 400. 

' barter, John G., 225. 
" Jonathan, 43S. 
" Levi, 70, 71. 
' : Simeon, 127, 205. 
'ass, Lewis, 2G0. 
Jaswell, David, 201, 240, 367. 
" Mrs. David, 78, 390. 
;hamberlain, 1). C, 226. 

" John, 69, 401. 

" Otis, 355. 

Jhapman, Edward, 42. 
;hase, Archibald, 173. 
" Charles, 227, 234. 
" Loring, 373. 
" William, 848. 
:heesebrough, Mr. Engineer, 18. 
'heney, John, 68, 70. 
'heshire, Mr., 272. 
,'hipman, Rev. R. M., 349, 360. 
Jhoate, John, 32, 33, 36. 

" Stephen, 61. 
Jlapp, Samuel, 349. 
Hark, Rev. Elam, 184, 328. 
" Eber L., 175, 183-185, 

210, 289, 313, 333-335. 
" Rev., of Lexington, 319. 
" Rev., 357. 
" Julius L., 333. 
" II. O., 220, 404. 
" Wallace R., 404. 
.larke, Rev. B. F., 46, 218; 309, 
339. 
" Miss Ursula E., 226. 
Claughlin, J. M., 405. 
Clay, Henry, 256. 
Clements, Wm , 91. 
Coffin, Geo., 141, 173, 183-185, 
339. 
" Geo. S., 366. 367. 
Cogswell, Wm., 36. 



Collester, Osgood, 350, 353. 
Conant, Zebulon, 70. 
Connor, Mrs., 139, 243, 400. 
Converse, G. W., 392. 

" Mrs. Ellen A., 374. 

Cook, John, 366. 
Cooledge, James, 94, 152. 
Cooper, Rev. W., 212, 341,342. 
Cowdin, Thomas, 247. 
Cowee, R. G., 349. 
Craig, 49, 63, 62. 
Craue, Wm., 343. 
Crawford, Wm. H., 25G. 
Crooks, Henry, 138, 143, 230. 

" Uriah, 401. 
Crosby, Flavel, 174, 230. 
" John, 231, 367. 
" Otis, 426. 
" Sam'l, 75,109, 113, 119, 
126. 136, 137, 139, 157, 
172, 302, 424. 
Crowley, Joseph II., 401. 
Culvert, Elder, 342. 
Cummings, Absina, 398. 
" George, 339. 

" Mrs., 103. 

" Isaac, 232, 234, 237 . 

" Rev. Henry, 167. 

Curtice, Abner, 111, 128, 136, 

139, 140, 229, 301. 
Cushing, Caleb, 200. 

'< Rev. Dr., 319, 324 325, 

330. 
" Rev,Mr., ofWaltham, 
319. 

Thomas, 109. 
Cutler, Dr. Wm. H., 206, 209, 

424. 
Cutter, John, 249,271,273,304, 

307, 339. 
Cutting, Robert, 167. 

ID 

Darling,JewettB.,lll,142, 399. 
" John, 46,61, 62,89, 97, 

104. 
" Samuel, 49. 
" Silas, 49. 
" Timothy, 49, 61, 62,87. 
Davis, John, 257. 
Day, B. R , 370. 
" Daniel, 341, 402. 
" Oilman, 210, 221. 
" John, 69, 87, 89. 95, 97, 98, 

100, 104, 124. 
" Joseph, 230. 
" Mary, 402. 
" Nathan, 87, 88,359. 
" Richard, 45-48, 50, 53, 60- 
64, 147, 303, 313, 315, 339, 
401, 429. 439. 
Denison, J., 40. 

" Maj. Gen., 42. 
Denny, Mr., 366. 
Divoll, Levi, 142, 428. 
Doane, J. M., 392. 
Dodge, Rev. Austin, 352. 
« Geo. S., 387, 388. 
" Samuel, 364. 
Doolittle, Col., 88, 90. 
Dorr, Rev. T. H., 218, 356. 
Douglas, Stephen A., 260. 
Dow, Lorenzo, 342. 
Downe, Mrs., 122. 
Downing, John, 41. [857,307. 
Dunbar, J<fcn D., 272, 281, 282, 



Dunham, Miss Jerusha, 406. 
Dunn, Rev. Andrew, 213, 289, 
341, 352-354. 
" Josiah J., 46, 229, 273. 
Dunsmore, Dr., 422. 
" John, 57. 

Eager, Pau,l 70. 
Eddy, Mrs., 46. 

" John C, 213. 
Edmands, Amos, 71, 142, 143 . 

" Artemas, 347. 
Ellis, Aaron, 105, 305. 

" Asa, 140. 

" Bethuel, 218, 222, 223, 
307, 308. 

" Daniels, 348. 

" Jesse, 129. 
Emery, Stephen, 110. 

" Stephen, Jr.. 426. 
Epes or Epps, Simonds, 68. 
Estabrook, Joseph, 241, 

" Rev. Joseph, 167. 

Estey, John, 230, 238. 

" Oliver, 342. 
Evans, Jonathan, 71, 228. 

" Mrs. Keziah, 399. 
Eveleth, Edward, 36, 41, 44, 134. 
Everett, Edward, 257. 

F 
Fairbanks, Jabez, 30. 
" John, 167. 

« John H., 203, 222, 

307,308,443. 
" Levi N, 347, 401. 

" Mrs. C. P., 374, 387. 

" Sidney, 201,223,309, 

348, 356, 367, 37S. 
Far, Oliver, 241. 
Farrar, Daniel, [190, 229. 236, 
369. 
" David, 142. 
Fay, Elder, 342. 
" Dr. Allen C, 212, 425. 
' ' Gershom, 69, 71. 
" Joseph, 69. 
Felton, M. B.,378, 406. 
Ferrier, Amasa, 308. 
Fessenden, John, 75. 
Fielden, J. F., 226. 
Fisher. C, 71, 136. 

" Gideon, 69, 70, 73. 
Fitts, Rev. D., 429. 
Fitzpatriek,Bp., 311. 
Flaggg, John, 237. 
Fletcher, Judge, 282. 
Flint, David, 246. 

" Nathan, 110. 
Follet, Robert, 367. 
Folsom, John G., 356, 373, 438. 
Forristall, Charle3, 380. 

" John, 185, 211, 238, 

240, 242-245, 347. 
" John M., 223. 
Foskett, Levi W., 429. 

" Moses, 370, 401. 
Foster, Dwight, 277, 278. 
" Daniel, 349. 
" Rev. Davis, 352. 
" Jonathan, 53, 61, 62. 
" Moses, 69. 
Fox, Jesse, 69. 
Fremont, John C, 260. 
French, Mr., 161, 309. 



INDEX OF NAMES. 



525 



French, Adam, 381. 
Fry, Benjamin, 210. 

" Elisha, 402. 

" James, 270, 273. 
Fuller, James M., 186, 210. 

" Joseph. 49. 

" Rev. Robert W., 337. 

Q- 

Gage,Gen.,84. 
Gale, Ephraiin, 70. 

" Joshua, 47, 95, 97-99. 
Gardham, J. B., 401. 
Gardner, Henry, 86. 

" Her. Mr., of Leomin- 
ster, 319. 
" William. 167. 
Garrison, Barnabas, 91. 
Geddes, Dr., 425. 
George III., 83. 
Gibson, John. 247. 
Glddings, Isaac, 36. 41. 

" Solomon, 36, 41. 

Gill, Moses, 75. 
" John, 230. 
Giles, Johu G., 214. 
Goddard, Josiah, 173. 
" Mary, 398. 
Godding, Dr. Alvah, 200, 210, 
213,216,259,290,347- 
349,391,425. 
' " Dr. Wm.W.,220, 309, 
427. 
Goldiug, John R., 236. 398. 

" Lydia, 398. 
Goodhue, Amos, 141,143,365 
" Francis, 41, 94, 97. 

128, 137, 323. 
" Johu, 42. 139. 
Goodnow, Joshua, 91. 
Goodridge Benjamin, 46, 50, 56, 
57, 147. 
" Daniel, 51, 61, 62, 

89,98,117,123,124. 
" David, 26, 51, 89, 124, 

128, 205, 313. 
" David, 2d, 398. 

" Eliphalet, 128, 137, 

140. 228. 
" Bhiiip, 49. 50, 147. 
" Rebecca, 198. 

" Lowell, 209. 

" Sewall, 426. 
Goodspeed & VVymau, 18, 335, 
373. 
" Elizabeth, 356, 402. 
" George, 
" Isaac, 347. 
Goodyear, Bev. George, 335. 
Gould, Daniel, 69, 70. 
" Jacob.' 49, 50. 
Grant, Win. II., 381, 382. 
Gray, Harrison, 86. 
" Thomas, 68. 
Greaton, Smyrna, 186, 342-345, 
347. 
" Thomas, 111, 129, 141, 
152, 160, 176, 230, 250, 
276. 
Green, Dr., 96, 423. 
" Israel, 69. 
" Nathaniel, 71. 
Greenwood, Aaron, 205. 

Henry, 244, 25S, 
349, 401, 
" Levi, 201^229, 242. 

245. 



Greenwood, Thomas, 143, 176, 
185, 229, 255, 276. 
Gregory, Elisha, 258. 

Geo. W., 221,230, 365. 
Griffin, Samuel, 167. 
Grout, Isaac, 228, 398. 
'• John, 250. 
" Jonathan, 75. 
Guy, Alpheus, 210. 

EC 

Hagar, Nathan, 167. 
Hale, Abner, 62, 68,111. 
'• Amos, 69, 87, 91,111,230. 
" Amos H. 

« Artemas, 167, 314, 435,444. 
'« Asa, 186, 210. 
" Esq., 172. 
" Daniel, 210. 
" Jacob, 46, 69, 111, 139, 

152, 210, 360. 
" Jacob, Jr., 210, 236,253. 
" John, 427. 
" John P., 260. 
" Luke, 220, 375. 
" Merritt, 301. 
" Miss Orelba, 444. 
" Moses, 26, 46, 69, 72, 74- 
78, 81-88, 91, 431, passim. 
" Moses, Jr., 182. 
" Nathaniel, 210, 247, 249. 
" Rev. E. E., 356, 
" Stillman, 210, 214. 
Hall, Benjamin, 129, 141, 152, 
162, 323, 365. 
" Jeremiah, 37. 
" Ziba, 141, 142, 157, 424. 
Hambleton, Rev. Win. J , 310. 
Hancock, Bill, 89, 110, 125, 127, 
141. 
«« Joel. 253. 

John, 109, 120. 
" Levi, 273 
" Moses, 212-214, 258, 

307, 369, 405. 
" Ozro, 381, 405, 
" Timothy, 228, 250. 
" William, 253. 
" Zenas, 182. 
Hand, Nathan H., 347, 379, 405. 
Hapgood, Johu, 230, 360. 
Hardy, Silas, 226. 
Harris, Humphrey, 402. 
" Jacob B., 422, 427. 
" Reuben, 210-212,216, 

220, 370. 
" William, 249. 
Harwood, Harrison, 201. 
Hartwell, Edward, 59, 61. 
" Mrs. Leander, 406. 

" Sam'1,235, 253, 403. 
Harvey, Rev. Mr., 53, 146, 313. 
Haskell, Levi, 371. 
Hastings, Jairus, 381, 382. 
Hawkins, John H., 291. 
Henshaw. Daniel, 207,209, 239- 
242, 252, 253, 255, 
268, 289, 328, 421. 
Henry, Matthew, 317. 
Heywood, Amos, 76, 78, 110, 137. 
15S, 331, 339. 
" Charles, 137, 139. 
" Esq., 172. 
" Joseph, 142. 
" Lemuel, 250. 
" Levi, 303. 

Luke, 210, 243. 



Hicks, Kev. Mr.. 356. 
Hill, Alonzo, 356. 
" Robert, 151. 
Hinsdale, Rev. Mr., 334, 
Hitchcock, Kev. M. H., 220, 

338, 339. 
Hoar, Capt.,235. 
Hobson, John, 32, 36, 41. 
Hodgkins, Henry, 49. 

" Win., 49. 

Hodskins, Aaron, 61, 135. 
Holbrook, Silvenus, 367. 
Holcomb, Joshua, 277. 
nolden, Henry, 400. 
Holman, Amory,240. 

Nathaniel, 176, 236. 
" Samuel, 245. 
Holmes, Dr. Jacob, 424, 
Holt, Mary, 45, 46, 429. 
Holt, Win., 45, 48. 
Homer, John, 70, 81-83. 
Hopkiuson, Judge, 282. 
Houghton, Abiathar, 56. 
Cyrus, 348. 
" Robert, 206, 237-239. 

" Wm., 70. 

How, Ebenezer, 71, 94, 124. 
Howe, A. S., 220. 
" Mrs., 226. 
Howard, Johu D., 380. 

'• Mrs. Tisdale, 398. 
" Sylvia, 128, 129, 205. 
Hubbard, Benjamin, 172, 175, 
303, 406. 
" Daniel, 93, 97, 110. 

126,127,129,293. 
" David, 128, 140. 

Hudson, Hon. Charles, 445. 
Hughes, Thomas, 401. 
Humphrey, Rev. Mr., 49, 319. 
Hunt, Abel, 70. 
" Joel, 405. 
" Leander, 401, 403. 
'• Samuel, 313. 
" Warren, 379. 
Huntington, Rev. Dr., 356. 
Huntooa, Rev. B.,356. 
Hutchius, Joshua, 56. 
Hyde, Alfred, 370. 
" Asa, 210, 246,347. 
" Charles, 381. 
" Elisha, 347. 
" Ezra, Sen., 71, 93, 129, 

165, 172, 205, 229, 236. 
" Ezra, (the historian.) 20, 
30,42,114,215,252,394, 
passim. 
" Ezra, 3d, 247, 347, 370, 

373. 
" Job, 374. 
" Joel, 397. 
" John, 347. 
" Reuben, 210, 307, 331, 
335,339, 347, 350,352, 
369, 370,373,390, 397, 
437. 
" Warren, 370. 



Ingersoll, John, 277, 278. 



Jackson, Andrew, 256. 
Jefferson, Thos., 121, 176, 178, 

250, 256. 
Jennings, Lyman, 43S. 
Jewett. Ezekiel, 44. 



HISTORY OF VVINCHENDON. 



Jewett, Joseph, 209, 373. 

" Thomas, 46-48. 53,146. 
" Dr., 291. 

Johnson, Jothani, 232. 
Joiner, or .loyner, .John, 69. 

" William, 69. 
Jones, Abel, 175, 198, 205, 237. 
.losliu, Daaiel, 71, 91. 

'• Peter, 121. 

e: 

Keith, Henry, 123, 390 

" Jason, 46, 135, 232 
Kellogg, Stephen F., 214, 215. 
Kendall, Abijah. 230. 
" Ephraim. 369. 

Samuel, 167. 382. 
Kendall & Masoii, 406. 
Kent, T. G., 422. 
Ketchum, Stephen, 433. 
Kidder, Benj , 109, 126, 143, 230, 
232, 245 
" E-.och, 399. 
" Frederic , 48, 319. 
'• 1 lev wood, 112. 
" John, 167. 
Kilburu, John. 207. 237, 238, 

240,245, 247- 
Kimball, Thomas. 91, 210. 
King, Rufus. ! 

'• John, 221. 
Kinney, Aaron, 341. 

" Kev. Moses, 340. 341. 
Kneeland, Joseph, 03. 

Timothy, 69, 137. 
Knight, Luke, 402. 

" Matthew, 47, 70, 97 

109, 111,231,232. 
" Nathan, 95, 110, 229 
366. 
Knowlton, Col.. 72 423 



Lathrop, Snr !. 256, 2."7. 

Lawrence, Kev. Mr., of Lincoln 

319. 
Leary, J . . 38 1 . 
Lee, Rev. Mr , 319, 324, 325. 

Lewis, Mi-.. 273. 

Lincoln, Ab r auam : 

Benjamin, 109. 
'• Rev. Calvin, i 
" Dr. William! 

" Levi. 173. 174. 275. 
'' Levi . 

" Kev. Sumner, 375 
Kirch, Sam'l, 109,111.114, 115. 

'• Samuel, Jr., 
Litchfield. Rev 1 1< ■,. ... \ 220 
221.223,354.355,35:,: 
London, Eden, 276-279. 
Lord, Bemsley,47, 1 11 . 267. 31''., 
ui 3. 
'• Ephraim W., 248. 
'• Jeremiah 110 128 
u Sally, 77, 267. 
Loud, Chas. A , 221 223. 3 
'• Edward, 212.' 2I4' '-'45 * 

04,437. ' 
" Ed., Jr., 371. 
ii. Sumi 
Lovejoy, Oliver, 240,347,435. 

Dr. Oliver, 
Lovell. lie... \ 
Lyman, Kev. 



Xvl 
Macaulay, Lord, 25. 131. 
Madison, James, 178, 252, 256. 
Mann, Kev. Cyrus, 335. 

Horace, 225. 
Manning, Joseph, 45. 

Thomas, 61, 68, 139. 
Mansfield, .James, 47, 63. 

" Tbeo's, 62. 

Marshall, John, 121. 
" Jonas, 366. 
Martiu, Barzillai, 230, 343, 347. 
Isaac, 41. 
James, 209. 
" John, 41. 

Kev. Mr., 357, 
Marvin, Rev. A. P., 213, 214, 
216, 352, passim. 
Miss C. E.,226. 
Mason, Mrs. Jane F., 309. 
" Mr., 365. 

" Orlaudo, 220, 235. 397, 
809, 352, 369, 372, 392. 
- '• Samuel, 70. 
" Thad., 32. 
Massey, Aaron, 142. 
Maynard, Alexander, 95. 

Deujamiu, 140, 229, 
370. 
" Daniel, 229. 

Theodore, 97. 
.Seth, 232. 
Merriam, Amos, 69, 70, 83, SO, 
95. 98, 100, 124. 139, 
293. 

A. II., 215. 
Merrill, E. S., 218. 220, 221, 80S 

310, 378, 330. 
Merriam, Col. J., 380. 
Miller, Dr., 425. 
Milson, J.J.,226. 
Mitchell, Kev. Mr., 357. 
Moffat, Johu, 46, 48, 49. 
" Mrs., 71. 
•' Robert, 303. 400. 
" Wm..46, 48, 135. 
Monroe, James, 256. 
Moor. Jonathan. 303, 406. 

•• Levi. 75.76.159,23'! 339. 

Morrill. f>. L.,213, 3*1, 3s7. 422. 

Morse, Isaac. 179, 182-185,239 

241,245, 251, 25S, 269. 

434. 

" Jedidiah, 205, 390. 431. 

" M. S..23'l.248,2S0,378. 

Morton, Atkins, 373. 

Kev. Dan'lO.. 212.335, 
336. 434. 
L.ydia.305. 
'■ Marcus, 256. 257. 
Mosely, Geo., 01. 
M urdock, Klisha, 210-213. 216- 
219, 289, 809. 371, 
391, 432. 

Bph'm,175,T79, 182. 
LI. 214-216, 270, 
■:?.l 28 

'• Kph'm.Jr.. 26, 201, 

343, 3<>7. 372, 381, 

392, 405. ' 

Isaac M.. 203, 218, 

356,380,383.427. 

U I. 
James, Jr., 
John s 

22!. 



Murdock, William, 108, 372, 
378, 391, 438. 

Murray, Lindley, 224. 

McEhvain, David, 236. 

Jas., 47, 71,96,109, 
124, 126, 205, 232, 
244, 360. 
" James, Jr., 252, 253. 

Sally, 267. 

Mclntyre, Kev. Mr., 356. 

DNT 
Nash, Marvin T., 245, 368, 373, 

' 37S. 
Neale, Kev. Dr. Rolliu II., 353. 
Nelson & Mice 368. 

" Kev. Dr. John, 330. 
Newcomb, H. G., 179, 182, 185, 
209.255,422. 
LNewhall. John, 210. 
Newman, 13. W., 222. 
Newton, Miss D. M., 226. 

" Samuel. 96. 

Nichols, Isaac, 88. 

" Levi, 71, 81, 88. 109, 
136, 231, 232. 
j Norcross, James, 342. 
Joseph, 312. 
" Orrin,306. 
! Northrop, Kev D. G., 220. 
1 Norton, Kev. C. It.. 334. 

Thomas, Jr., 36-38. 
! Nourse, Asa, 341, 342. 
Noyes, Isaac, 227. 
" James, OH. 
" Samuel, 69, 98, 110, 179, 
253. 
Nutting, Jonas, 125. 

o 

Oaks. Nathaniel, 70 

" Seth, 53, 70, 93, 96, 97, 
128, 293. 

" Wm., 53, 61, 62. 

Wm., Jr., 303, 400. 
Oliver, John. 167. 
Osgood, liev. John, 324, 325,339. 

jP 
Paine, Timothy, 75. 
Palfrey, Dr.. 191. 
Parkhuret, Dr. Wm., 205, 421. 
Parker, G. B.. 203, 30' 
Page, Dr. John T., 425. 
•• Mrs. Betsey, I 
" Miss Miranda, 400. 
" Samuel, 3S2. 
Parks, Abel, 213. 
" Austin, 403. 
" Edson A., 403. 
" Edwin, 309, 370, 438. 
; - Kleazar, 103. 
" Eliphalei 
• : Jacob. 250. 
" Levi, 127, 201, 205, 214, 

258, 370. 
'■ Levi N., 220, 370. 138. 
" Luke, 209. 24( », 370. 
" Martin II., 370. 
" Phinehas, 143,407. 
Mrs. Phinehas, 399 
" Polyorates, 369, 437. 

P. Hlwain, 399. 
" William 
Par:;.-; & Day, 

ter, Ephraim, 103. 
John v ,68. 



INDEX OF NAMES. 



,27 



Parraenter, Peter, 398. 
Parsons, or Pearson, Bartholo- 
mew, 49, 50, 02, 147, 
143, 365. 3*3 
" Oliver, 272, 278. 
" Kev. Levi, 337 
" Richard, 68, 135, 390, 

117, 149. 
•' Theophilus, 27S, 279. 
Parson, John N., 89, 92. 
Partridge, Cyrus, 400 

Maynard, 216, 307, 
352. 
Patch, Minot, 140. 216 371. 
Payson, Edward, 204, 224. 

'• Kev. Dr.Seth,167, 171, 

184, 190, 204, 330. 
" Kev. Eliot, 435. 
" James, 128. 
Peck, Henry, 439. 
Peckham, Rev. S. H., 349,350. 
Pentecost, Rev. Win., 388. 
Pentland, Dr., 425. 
Perkins, Rev E., 330, 335, 348. 
Perley, Asa. 230, 336. 

Dudley, 68, 81, 82, 89, 
123, 143. 
" Henry, 213, 216. 
" John, 165. 
Perrin, Francis D., 382. 
Pettce, Rev. Mr., 213. 
Pettis, Samuel, 356. 
Phelps, Miss L , 403. 
Phipps, Sir H'm., 51. 
Pierce, Abijah, 185, 251. 
'• Cyrus. 238, 366. 
" E., 349. 
" Franklin, 260. 
" Mrs. Harriet W., 399. 
" John, 236. 
" Lafayette W., 422. 
" Lucius D., 422. 
Pierpout, Rev. John, 291. 
Pike.Capt. John, 431. 
Pillsbury, Rev. Levi, 175-178, 
182, 186, 252. 313, 
322-328, 332, 396. 
Levi, M. D., 428. 
Pinckney, CO., 256. 
Piper, Rev. Silas, 218. 

•' J., 381. 
Pitkin, Harry, 304, 378, 401. 
" Miss Caroline A., 226. 
" Miss Emily R.. 226 
Pollard, Andrew,- D. D., 428. 
" George S., 405. 
" Jonathan, 105, 440. 
" Wm., 378, 405. 
Poland, Addison B., 427. 
" D. E.. 439. 

" David, 259, 343. 
" Samuel, 253. 
" Simon B., 230. 343. 
Wm., Sen., 343. 
Tomroy, Rev. J. L., 330. 
Poor, David, 49, 86, 127, 135 , 
293, 432. 
" John, 127, 316. 
Porter, Ezra, 201. 210. 
'• John, 69, 89. 
" Rev. Dr., 291. 
" Wm., 68. 
Potter, Moses, 404. 
Prentice, or Prentiss, Levi, 243. 
'• Samuel, 26773, 76, 78, 
96, 126, 128, 152, 160. 



165,174,181,183,185, 

275, 3>2, 321. 339. 
Prentice, Samuel, Jr., 209, 252, 

255, 331. 
Priest, Joseph. 364. 

•• Joshua. 46, 48, 301, 302. 

" Levi, 243, 368. 

" Lemuel, Jr., 252, 255, 

331, 339. 
" Joseph, 364. 
Prouty or ProughU', Tsaac, 111, 
127. 
" Seth, 209. 
Pushey, Gabriel, 45, 47, 48, 71. 

" Nathan. 43. 
Putnam, Edward, 96. 
" Miles, 71, 91, 335 

" Putnam. Rev. I, 356. 

Gi 

Quincy, Josiah, 32, 251. 

Rand, War'nam,212 
Raymond, Clark, 247. 
" Cornelius, 373. 

Col. Paul, 144, 304. 
Dea. Paul, 144, 304, 
331, 335, 339, 348, 
395. 
" Geo. B., 218, 222,223, 

370. 
" James, 143, 234, 237, 

241, 251. 
" Jesse, 237, 247. 

" John, 134, 185, 230, 

• 398. 
" John, Jr., 273. 

Levi, 201, 247,253, 
306. 

Lieut. Paul, 126-128, 
140,144,178,176,182, 
185,205,227,230,235, 
236,250-252,208,305, 
432. 

Paul, Jr., 220. 
« Silas, 374. 
" Tyler, 136, 228. 

" Miner, D. D., 344. 

Readfield, Mr.,238. 
Reed, Heury, 280. 
'« John L., 303. 
il Lincoln, 273. 
'• Moses M., 182, 185, 210, 

228, 395. 
" Samuel, 49. 
JReed & Walker, 373. 
Kico, Benjamin, 87, 88, 95, 228, 
442. 
" C. J., 47, 75, 220, 308, 309, 

366. 
•' David, 15S, 159, 165. 
" Hon. W. W., 338, 428. 
» Luke, 49, 141, 186, 190,207, 
212,249, 260, 303, 306, 398, 
444. 
" Mrs., 202. 
" Miss Lucv Ann, 226. 
" Rev.B., 213, 337, 34S-320. 
l> Rev. Mr., of Westminster, 
318. 
Rice & Wyman, 22. 
Richardson, Ebenszer, 97, 9S, 
109, 111, 240, 342, 
347. 
«' Luth.,212,213 399. 
Thos.,M.D.,322. 



Hi Igway, Philip, 367. 
Robertson, Asa, 14;>. 
Kobiusou, Asa. Ho. 

Peter, L28, 129. 
Robbins, Daniel, 303, 406. 
llervey. 369. 
" Joseph, 186, 211, 227, 
237,144,260.370, 490. 
" Joseph A., 369. 

Lewis, 210, 243. 369, 
437- 
" Maria, 403. 
" Mrs. Nancy, 404. 
" Nahum, 245, 371. 

Rev. Dr. Thos., 330, 
331. 

Wm., 369, 371. 
" Wm., Jr., 210. 
Rollins, Philip. 104. 
Ross, Rev. A. II., 435. 
Rugg, Joel, 393. 

'' Thomas, 68, 111. 
Russell, Frederic, 427. 

Ira, M. D., 221, 3S5, 

425. 

Peter, 128. 

S 

Sabin, Lewis, D. D.. 24S-350. 

" Rev. John, 189, 328. 
Safford, 8., 381. 
Sargent, Lemuel, 69. 

Samuel. 230, 237. 
" Seth, 253. 
Saul, Thomas, 380. 
Saunders, Lemuel, 281, 2S3. 
Sawyer, Ephraim, 70. 
J. B.,223. 
" Thos., - 69, 70, SO, 278, 
305. 
Scott, Daniel, 368. 

" Salmon, 368. 
Sewall, S. B., 257, 269. 
Shattuck. Capt., 111, 112. 

" Dr.. 423. 
Sherwin. Ahiniaaz, 111, 126. 
" Ebenexer, 69, 71, 94, 

97, 110,117,128,129, 
190, 205. 
" Elias, 182. 
" Eliel, 185. 
" George, Percival, 370. 
Shurtleff, R. M.,429. 
Shirley, Wm., 48. 
Sibley, Joel, 212, 214. 247, 305, 
306. 
" Wm., 220. 
Simonds, Jacob, 371, 437. 
" James, 70. 
" Rev. Sam'l, 182, 341. 
Singletary, Amos, 75. 
Smith, Abijah, 45, 60, 146, 147. 
" David, 104, 128. 
" Eli, 69, 70, 83, 86, 110, 

111 3lil. 
; ' Gov., 190. 
" Henry, 3S0. 
" Johnny, 190. 
" Jonathan. 111. 
" Joshua, 186. 384. 
" Mrs. Jonathan . 403. 
" Prof. Eli B., 337. 
" Stephen B., 186. 
Spalding, Dr. M.. 209, 425. 
Sparhawk, Kev. Mr , 318. 324. 
Spooner. Mason, 175, 424. 
Ruggles, 110. 



£ 



52S 



HISTORY OF WINCHENDON, 



Spring, Amos, Gl. 

" Samuel, 71. 
Stearns, B., 110, 139. 142, 342, 
398. 
" Daniel B., 431. 
" Levi, 135. 
•' Mary, 83. 
Stebbins, H., 356. 
Steel, James. 109, 110, 158. 
" Samuel, 71. 110, 157. 
Stephens, Abel, 344. 
Stevens, LeviO., 214. 
Stimson. or Stinipson, Abijah, 
G9, 89. 
Daniel, 237. 
• ( Kev. Daniel, 51, 56, 
68,69,75,147-149,267, 
313-318, 422, 442. 
•' Ephraim, 51, 70. 
" Isaac, 68, 228. 
" Jonathan, 51, 62, 70, 
76, 110.125,274,277, 
302 ,303, 366, 401. 
Joseph, 62, 68. 
" Kev. Levi, 316. 
•' Luther, 47, 76, 104, 

157, 267. 275. 
" Mrs. Thankful, 76, 

275. 
" Mrs., 189. 
" Kev. Samuel, 316. 
" Samuel, 97, 400. 
Stockwell, Isaac, 342. 
Stoddard, David, 71, 87.110,125. 
" Joshua, 1S5, 252, 305, 

360, 393. 
" Leavitt, 253. 
Stone, Jonas A., 368. 
" Joseph, 343. 
" Rev. W. B., 349. 
; ' Samuel, 97. 
Storrs, Rev. John, 46, 214, 216, 

21S, 338, 339. 
Story, Joseph, 402. 
Stratton, Elisha, 167. 
Strong, Caleb, 177, 200, 251,253. 
Stuart, Enoch, 398. 

" Jeremiah, 51, 57. 70, 70, 84, 

86, 124, 12^. 133, 340,370, 
•' Paul, 230, 201.398. 
'J Richard, 180, 210, 211,243, 
869. 
Swasey, Richard, 212. 
Sweetzer, Phillips, 124-127, 134. 
Sylvester, Major, 22y, 232. 

a? 

Tannant, Pliny H., 401. 
Talbot, B. II., 401. 
Tateum,Mr.,438. 
Taylor, Bill, 371. 

Dr., 149, 422. 
" Isaac, 1 13, 235, 238. 
" Jake, 371. 

L.,3S1. 
" Zachary, 260. 
Thoma3, B. F.. 2S1. 
F. N , 210. 
Til.len.Rev. Wm. P., 8S6. 
Tilton, Ab., 2J , 32, 30-38, 41, 45. 
Titus, Samuel, 02, 147. 148. 
Todd, Kev. Dr. John, 834. 
Tolman, Charles, 244. 

Desire, 47, 172, 170, 182, 
184, 185, 302, 32- 
" Mrs., 202, 
'• li'.v. S. F., 420. 

Stephen, 22, 44.185,180, 
235, 242. 

Win., 186, 200. 210, 230, 
235, 348. 



Towne. Wm., 381. 
Tracy, Rev. Leonard, 213, 353,357. 
Tread well, Nathaniel, 38, 41. 
Trumbull, Gov., 310. 
Tucker, Elisha, Sen., 432. 
Elisha, 429. 
" Joshua, 304, 350, 429. 
" Seth, SeD., 104, 230, SCO, 

390, 432. 
" Seth, Jr., 201, 212, 210.222- 
224,240, 308, 348, 352,303. 
Tnttle, Charles, 49. 
" Simon, 253. 
" Simon, Jr., 253. 
Tvler, B. O., £14, 21'!. 

Rev. E. R., 349, 350. 

XJ 

Upham. Ilenry, 367. 
Upton, A. E., 220. 

-XT 

Van Buren. Martin, 250, 200. 
Vose, Reuben, 229, 253. 
" Reuben, Jr., 318. 

■■ Wm., sets. 

w 

Wade, Jonathan, 30, 38. 
Wales, Esq., 172. 

" Jacob, 210, 230, 240, 242, 270. 
Wallingford, Rev. P., 344. 
Ward, Artemas, 75. 
Warner, Silas. 843. 
Washburn .Emory , 280. 
" Wm. B.,427. 
Washington, Gen., 120,121,250. 
Watson, Rev. Joseph, 212. 
Watts, Rev. Dr., 163. 
Wellington, Rev. C, 330, 350. 
Weston, .Miss Anstriss, 226. 
" EleazarP.,343. 
I. E., 372. 

Stephen, 227,237,343,347. 
Wharton, Lord Thomas, 59. 
Wheeler, Adam, 114. 
" Amos, 214. 

" Rev. Charles, 221,356, 
Wheeler & Hay ward, 405. 
Wheelock, Phinehas, 09, 70. 
Whitcomb, David, 70. 
" Horace, 16. 
■' Israel. 179, 181, 186, 186, 
211, 210, 242, 209-271, 
305. 402. 
" Jonathan, 98. 

Mark, 280, 347, 348, 384. 
Whitcomb & Fairbanks, 231, 431. 
White, Joseph. 201 , 353, 307. 

" N. D., 220, 221 , :>^, 307, 3,72 
" W.N., 221,355, 372.:,--. 
Whitman, C. R., 201, 351, 370. 378, 
391 399. 
" James, 306,392. 

Whitman & Parks, 405. 
Whitmore, John, 341. 
Whitney, Amasa, Sen., 23, 185, 1SG, 
242,270, 305, 300,309, ayl, 
435. 
" Amasa, Jr., 308,387. 

Baxter D., 23, 173. 223, 
246,356,368,-372,373,307, 
405, 438. 
" Chas. L, B., 427. 
" Elias, 200, 367, 402, 406. 
" Emerson C, 213, 427. 
" Ephraim, 341. 
" Giles n., 202, 203,221-3 

422, 399. 422. 
•' Grover S.,220, 352. 

Hananiah, 112, 175, 185, 
329. 
" Jacob, 167. 
" Joseph, 211, 238, 2"3. 
" Joseph, Jr., 
" Joseph. 3d. 231. 
" Mrs. Dudley, 441. 



Whitney, Mrs. Lucy, 39* 
" Miss Mary E., 220. 
" Ohio, Jr., 221. 
'< Phiuehas, 47, 113, 11-5. 
173,179-180,238,250,289, ' 
."32.395,431.441. 
" Richard, 245. 
'• Silas, 53, 01,62,70,135, 

150. 
" Washington, 300, 392. 
<« Webster, 60, 271, 
« William, 7], 79, 90, 99. 
113,123,127,128,135,157, 
231,235,304.304,441. 
» Wm.W.,356,368. 
Whitney & Whitman , 369. 
Whiton, Dr. Israel, 72-74, 94, 90, 
130, 105, 172, 175, 25U. 252, 
302,339.423. 425. 
" Rev. John M., 30. 42. 44, 
47, 49, 87, 115, 1S8, 301, 
420; passim. 
" Rev. Otis C, 42G. 
Wilder, Abel, 45, 51, 53. 00-64, 72 - 
70. 80, 80-98, 113,117-120, 
430 i passim. 
" Abel, Jr., 170. 171. 
" Benjamin, 151, 212, 242. 
" Carter, 428. 
" David, 46. 48. 
" Joseph, 70, 71 . 93, 98, 123 . 

134. 
" Lewis, 270. 
" Luke, 123, 249, 301. 
•' Rev. Moses II., 428 
" Rufus,366. 
•' Salmon, 206. 
" Simon, 298. 
« Thomas, 45, 56, 78, 140. 
• • William, 347. 
Wiley. Samuel, 253. 
WiUard, Sec'y, 32. 
Williams, Rev. L.,354. 
Rev. Mr., 321. 
" Wm., 277. 

Willoby, Wm., 46. 
Willmarth.Rev. Mr., 215. 
Winch, Aaron, 229, 347- 
Wingate, Judge. 310. 
Winn, Jarvis, 115, 230, 249 
Wirt, Wui„ 257, 
Wise. Henry, 38. 
Withington, Edward. 120. 
Wood, Aliijah.443. 
■' Israel, 307. 
" James A., 381. 
" Mr., 235. 
" Nathan. 185, 209. 
" NathanieL 280, 281. 
Wood & Rand, 431. 
Woodcock, Wm. L., 220-222, 
243, 309, 310, 347, 
381. 
Woodcock & Sawyer, 369. 
WoodrVury, Isaac, 368. 

*' Jacob B., 103, 173, 
176, 228, 253, 329, 
368, 433. 
" Jacob, 182, 198, 207- 
214, 242, 247, 253, 
209, 270. 
'< Juhn. 127, 210, 247, 

304, 308. 
" John T., 249. 
" Nehemiah,368. 
" Rev. David, 428. 
" Rev. Silas, 428. 
" Samuel, *4, 46, 230. 
Worcester. Rev. Dr.. 3. 1. 
Wright, Col. Z., 172, 173. 
Wyman, Elisha. 495. 
" Oilman. 273. 
Wyman, Haryey, 243,246. 281, 
300,347,352.378,407. 
" Nelson W., 444. 
" Sumner, 139, 242, 360. 



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